Expert: Doug Yanega - 6/1/2006

Question
We're vacationing in the Bahamas, and my brother was bit by a bug by the ocean.  He said it was about 3 inches long, black, with wings.  It punctured his skin in several spots, as there were several spots of blood on his shirt.  When he asked a local about the bug, they said these bugs lay their eggs in human skin.  Then when the eggs hatch, the babies eat through the skin to escape.  Is this true, and if so, what kind of bug is this?  Thanks for your help!

Answer
The natives were having fun at your expense. He was bitten by a horse fly, which is nothing special. There are NO insects which lay their eggs in human skin, and the only thing that comes close is the screwworm fly, which is small and metallic green - they will lay eggs in open, gangrenous wounds (which your brother does not have).

Rest easy, okay?