Cheese flies are members of the family Piophilidae of flies (Diptera). The best-known member of the family is piophila casei. It is a small fly, about 40 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. Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... The Mediterranean fruit fly, or medfly, Ceratitis capitata A fly (plural flies) is any species of insect of the order Diptera, some of which can land on food and transmit bacteria to humans. ... A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ...

In Sardinia, Italy the larvae are intentionally introduced into pecorino cheese to produce casu marzu. Sardinia (Sardigna, Sardinna or Sardinnia in the Sardinian language, Sardegna in Italian, Sardenya in Catalan), is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (Sicily is the largest), between Italy, Spain and Tunisia, south of Corsica. ... Categories: Food and drink stubs | Italian cheeses ... Cheese is a solid food made from the curdled milk of various mammals—most commonly cows but sometimes goats, sheep, or buffalo. ... Casu modde cheese (also called casu marzu or, in Italian, formaggio marcio) is a special fermented cheese typical of Sardinia, Italy. ...

If eaten (accidentally or otherwise), the larvae can pass through the digestive system alive (human stomach acids do not usually kill them) and live for some time in the intestines. This is referred to as an enteric myiasis. The larvae can cause serious intestinal lesions as they attempt to bore through the intestinal walls. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, and bloody diarrhea. Living and dead larvae may pass in the stool. The intestine is the portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. ... Enteric means pertaining to the intestine. ... Nausea (Greek Ναυτεία) is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ... Diarrhea (AmE) or diarrhoea (CwE) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent and watery or loose bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; lit. ... Rabbit feces are usually 0. ...

Forensic entomology uses the presence of piophila casei larvae to help estimate the date of death for human remains. They do not take up residence in a corpse until three to six months after death.[1] Forensic entomology is the application of the study of insects and other arthropods to legal issues. ...

References

• Berenbaum, May R. (1993) Ninety-Nine More Maggots, Mites, and Munchers, University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-25-206322-8
• Lieutenant Brian F. Prendergast, USN (2001). Filth Flies: Significance, Surveillance and Control in Contingency Operations (.pdf format). Retrieved October 1, 2005.