They can typically be found throughout tropical areas of sub-Saharan Africa. These parasites live in warm, humid conditions. If they reach soil again, they can bury themselves and pupate until they enter their final life stage: an adult mango fly. The wound will get itchy and painful before the larvae eventually hatch by breaking through the skin. After about 8 to 12 days, boils will form. There are several different blowfly species that can infect dogs, so the presence of a worm in the skin does not necessarily indicate mango worms. When there’s an opportunity, the larvae of the mango fly (or African tumbu fly) implant themselves into a host (in less than 25 seconds) where they then start to develop (grow and fatten). Removing mango worms requires care, to minimize the risk of tearing the worm and leaving worm fragments behind in your dog’s skin. What Causes Mango Worms in Dogs Dogs can get mango worms from soil or grass containing freshly hatched larvae.

After 9 to 15 days the hatched larvae need to find a host. Once mature and ready to pupate, they will burst out of the skin, transform from a maggot into an adult mango fly that lays batches of 100 to 300 eggs at a time, and so the disgusting cycle continues. An adult female mango fly can lay between 100 to 300 eggs in soil (usually contaminated with faeces or urine) or on damp material (clothing or bedding).

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