Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Alpaca health · Skin & fleece

Fly Strike (Myiasis) in Alpacas

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team4 peer-reviewed references
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Urgent — contact your vet today

Early treatment makes a big difference. Don't wait more than a day.

Fly maggots feeding in wounds or fecal-soiled fleece. Uncommon in alpacas but serious when it occurs.

Category
Skin & fleece
Urgency
Urgent
Also called
Myiasis

Signs & symptoms

  • Restlessness, tail twitching
  • Foul smell, damp discolored fleece
  • Visible maggots in wounds

What causes it?

Blowflies lay eggs in wounds, soiled fleece around the tail, or damp skin folds in warm weather.

Risk factors

  • Diarrhea, wounds, hot humid weather

How vets diagnose it

Visual inspection.

Treatment

Clip fleece, remove maggots, clean wounds and use vet-recommended products.

Do not wait to see if it improves. Camelids hide illness, and by the time signs are obvious the problem is often advanced. Call your veterinarian.

Prevention

  • Keep tail areas clean
  • Treat wounds promptly
  • Fly control

Background

Myiasis, also known as flystrike or fly strike, is the parasitic infestation of the body of a live animal by fly larvae (maggots) that grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue. Although flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds and urine- or feces-soaked fur, some species can create an infestation even on unbroken skin. Non-myiatic flies can be responsible for accidental myiasis.From Wikipedia — “Myiasis”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Research & references

PubMed lists 4 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:

  1. First record of nasopharyngeal myiasis caused by Cephalopina titillator (Clark, 1816) in camel (Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758) in Uzbekistan. Safarov A, Kunisov B, Arepbaev I et al. Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports, 2024. PubMed 38772645 · DOI · cited 2×
  2. First report on nasal myiasis in an alpaca "Vicugna pacos" - a case report. Punsmann TM, Grimm LM, Reckmann C et al. BMC veterinary research, 2018. PubMed 30514380 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 2×
  3. Upper airway obstruction in a llama caused by aberrant nasopharyngeal bots (Cephenemyia sp.). Mattoon JS, Gerros TC, Parker JE et al. Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association, 1997. PubMed 9335098 · DOI · cited 7×
  4. A case of nasal myiasis due to Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae) in a llama (Lama glama). Gomez-Puerta LA, Alroy KA, Ticona DS et al. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria, 2013. PubMed 24473891 · DOI · cited 10×

Frequently asked questions

What is fly Strike (Myiasis) in alpacas?
Fly maggots feeding in wounds or fecal-soiled fleece. Uncommon in alpacas but serious when it occurs.
What are the signs of fly Strike (Myiasis)?
Restlessness, tail twitching, foul smell, damp discolored fleece and visible maggots in wounds.
How do you prevent fly Strike (Myiasis)?
Keep tail areas clean. Treat wounds promptly. Fly control.
Is fly Strike (Myiasis) an emergency?
Urgent — contact your vet today. Early treatment makes a big difference. Don't wait more than a day.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.