How to remove botflies?

Removing botflies involves a rather intricate process due to their hooks and the potential for infection. Paul Rosolie, who has experience with botflies, explains the method in detail.

1. Apply an Irritant: First, apply an irritant to the botfly's breathing hole to make it surface. Cigarette tar can be used for this purpose; take a deep drag from a cigarette, exhale some tar, and apply it with a knife over the hole.

2. Block the Air Supply: Cover the hole with Vaseline or a similar substance to prevent the botfly from breathing. This forces it to come up to the surface in search of air.

3. Extract the Botfly: Once the botfly surfaces, use tweezers to carefully grab it without ripping it apart. Squeezing from the bottom helps in getting the whole botfly out intact to avoid infection.

4. Post-Removal Care: Avoid bathing for a day or two after removal to allow the wound to close, preventing water and other organisms from entering and causing further infection 1.

Botfly removal is a delicate process and should ideally be conducted by someone experienced or in sterile conditions to prevent complications.