screwworm
Americannoun
noun
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the larva of a dipterous fly, Callitroga macellaria, that develops beneath the skin of living mammals often causing illness or death
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the fly producing this larva: family Calliphoridae
Etymology
Origin of screwworm
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Meanwhile, Nieto has a plan if he identifies screwworm afflicting cattle on his southern Texas ranch.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Ranchers and vets say this $4 treatment for cattle will help them beat back flesh-eating screwworm.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 12, 2026
But as the screwworm risk declined, the U.S. closed down most of its sterile fly production facilities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
The scientific name for screwworm really struck me, because it’s Cochliomyia hominivorax, which translates to “man-eater.”
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
As Phil explained to Patches while they watered their horses, the screwworm is the larva of a blowfly bred in sores on living animals.
From When A Man's A Man by Wright, Harold Bell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
