Cheese Fly Larva

Cheese flies are members of the family Piophilidae of flies (Diptera), including the members of two now-obsolete families, Neottiophilidae and Thyreophoridae. Most are scavengers in animal products and fungi. The best-known member of the family is Piophila casei. It is a small fly, about four mm (1/6 inch) long, found worldwide. The fly’s larva infests cured meats, smoked fish, cheeses, and decaying animals. The larva is about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long and is sometimes called the cheese skipper for its leaping ability - when disturbed, this tiny maggot can hop up to 15 cm (6 inches) into the air. Adults are also known as “bacon flies” and their larvae as “bacon skippers", “ham skippers", “cheese maggots", and “cheese hoppers". In Sardinia, Italy the larvae are intentionally introduced into pecorino cheese to produce casu marzu.

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