[2] The adult toadfly has large brown compound eyes, a bright metallic green thorax and abdomen clad with bristly black hairs and a pair of membraneous, dark veined, translucent wings.

The larvae are creamy white maggots similar to those of other blow flies that are found on dead animals and rotting meat.

[2] The adult toadfly strategically lays its eggs near the nostrils of the common toad, displaying a preference for weakened or injured individuals.

Upon hatching, the larvae delicately feed on the nostril tissue, gradually navigating into the intricate passages of the nasal cavities.

As they mature, these voracious larvae exhibit an insatiable appetite, devouring not only the host's eyes but also its brain and other vital tissues.