Is that a ZIT????

(WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART)

First, it resembled any other facial irritation. Zit? Ingrown hair? Bug bite? Hard to tell. But a few passing days left one of our volunteers, Ben, worried his face might be home to something more.

It started with the unusual swelling and was followed with colorful discharge. Eventually the swelling went down, but sharp sporadic pain continued. No amount of South American-grade antibiotics seem to take any effect.

Any guesses?

I wouldn't have known either- at least not until Ben went to wipe his face one morning and discovered dead black larvae.

Still no guesses?

A BOTFLY! There were two to be exact. The first expelled, a small black larva, was the dead twin of a very large, very alive botfly larva still at home in Ben's face.

For a quick lesson, botfly's are fairly common insects slightly larger than mosquitos. They use this size to pin down mosquitos and lay their eggs on them. The mosquitos then deposit the eggs in their next meal. The larvae grow inside the animal, or human, until they have cocooned themselves. (Not to fret, they excreet antibiotics that keep their environment immaculate and healthy). After cocooning, they expel themselves and eventually become an adult botfly.

So for the next two days we tried vaseline, tape, tobacco, and more to asphyxiate and lure the beast out of its den in Ben's face. (Check the videos out). Ben and I spent the better part of 3 hours playing something resembling Whack-a-Mole as the larva poked its backside in and out in search air, but the creature was too fast.

Look closely, you'll see it peeking out.

Sofía trying to smoke it out

Finally, at the suggestion of our secretary, Katya, we gave some veterinary substance a go. Sure enough, the now-lethargic larva was peaking out in 30 minutes after applying the magical substance. One quick pinch with the tweezers, and the creature below was unearthed from Ben's face.

Victorious!! (Sorry I missed the actual removal, I was in the middle of a call)

  

The little brown rings? Those are spikes. The black things up top? Teeth.

The Magic Potion

Recently single and happy.

And the sunset of the month!!