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.
U.S. imports of Mexican cattle have been suspended since May 11, 2025 because of the rapid spread of screwworm in Mexico at the time.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Even worse, the screwworm outbreak has started to spread to the U.S., with 15 confirmed cases.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
When the flesh-eating New World screwworm struck Texas cattle last week, the fifth-generation cattleman was ready for action.
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
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.
