hominivorax

Hominivorax is not a standalone taxon in current biology; it is best known as the species epithet in the binomial name Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly. The epithet is derived from Latin and means "man-eating" or "man-devouring," reflecting its association with myiasis in warm-blooded hosts.

Cochliomyia hominivorax is a blowfly in the family Calliphoridae. Adults are medium-sized with a metallic body and dark stripes on the thorax. Females lay batches of eggs in fresh wounds or natural orifices of vertebrates. The hatched larvae bore into and feed on living tissue, causing myiasis that can be severe in livestock and sometimes in humans. The species is a major veterinary pest and a concern in animal health programs.

Distribution and control: The species is native to the Americas and historically spread to parts of North America in the 20th century. It became the principal target of the sterile insect technique (SIT) program led by agricultural agencies, resulting in eradication from the United States, Mexico, and much of Central America. As of the present, pockets of activity remain in some regions of South America, and border controls and rapid response measures remain important to prevent reestablishment.

Taxonomic note: Hominivorax itself is not recognized as an independent valid genus in current classifications; rather, it is the specific epithet in Cochliomyia hominivorax. The term is sometimes encountered in historical or educational contexts to indicate life cycle and ecology of the species.