Dermatobia

/ˌdɜːməˈtoʊbiə/ noun

Definition

A genus of parasitic bot flies whose larvae burrow under human skin, causing painful infections.

Etymology

From Greek 'derma' (skin) and 'bios' (life), literally meaning 'life in skin'. The genus was named because the fly larvae live parasitically within skin tissue.

Kelly Says

Dermatobia botflies are found in Central and South America—the larvae literally burrow under your skin and must be extracted; it's one of nature's most unpleasant parasites.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.