Toad (warning, shocking pictures)

[goosey]

I have come across some strange and disgusting things over the years but I think this is just horrid.
I can't imagine what has happened to this toad (which is still alive) but half it's face is missing and there are maggots inside the wound.
I suppose the maggots are eating any infection which is good.



My daughter has just seen the pictures and asked if I brought home, afraid that I had ,she is used to my odd ways

[chris butterworth]

After the obligatory " Eeeeeeeeeeuch" , this is the result of a species of fly ( no literature with me at the moment so ..... ) that targets Toads heads to lay it's eggs on. When they hatch - well, you've seen the results. Grim, but strangely interesting.

Chris

[black]

OMG Poor Toad. If any travelling companions moan about a rather nasty botfly they had I'll mention this! Never heard of this so had a bit of a google. This rather horrible phenomenon is mentioned on the Froglife site and the fly species Chris mentioned is Lucilia bufonivora commonly referred to as the Toadfly

FAQs: dead frogs/toads in summer

Lucilia bufonivora - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[goosey]

Originally Posted by chris butterworth

After the obligatory " Eeeeeeeeeeuch" , this is the result of a species of fly ( no literature with me at the moment so ..... ) that targets Toads heads to lay it's eggs on. When they hatch - well, you've seen the results. Grim, but strangely interesting.

Chris

Originally Posted by black

OMG Poor Toad. If any travelling companions moan about a rather nasty botfly they had I'll mention this! Never heard of this so had a bit of a google. This rather horrible phenomenon is mentioned on the Froglife site and the fly species Chris mentioned is Lucilia bufonivora commonly referred to as the Toadfly

FAQs: dead frogs/toads in summer

Lucilia bufonivora - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks guys and for the links.
That is so horrible, intersting but still horrible, I thought the maggots were being beneficial too.

The top link mentions dead toads looking as if they had their heads 'caved in' and I have seen these too - not this year but last or the year before .

You can see the head here is already starting to cave in.

I will add Lucilia bufonivora to the key words.