Chrysomya bezziana, is a serious pest of buffalo, cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. Adult flies lay their eggs on wounds and undamaged skin. As the larvae develop they form deep wounds and within eight days they drop from the animal to pupate. The effect on the animal is loss of condition and appetite, anaemia, infertility, and death.

In Southeast Asia, some areas have 20-30% of cattle infested and 30% mortality in calves. On small farms screwworm infestations are frequently controlled by picking larvae out of the wounds and treating with tobacco, sump oil, petrol or battery acid.

On larger farms control is difficult, with treatment requiring the removal of larvae in conjunction with regular applications of insecticides which give little protection. Projected increases in stock numbers in the region and progression toward less intensive management of stock may mean greater losses due to screwworm.