Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#552607
Bot fly. - Cuterebra fontinella - female

Bot fly. - Cuterebra fontinella - Female
Orr's Island, Maine, USA
July 26, 2011
Size: like a small bumblebee

Moved

Cuterebra fontinella female
Nice shot. By your location in Maine there are not many choices for bots. I have spent a lot of time on Orrs island (doing work on browntail moth) and its a beautiful area. This is Cuterebra fontinella, and it appears to be female by the wide spacing between the eyes. The key ID feature on these guys is a white rump, which is hard to see in your photo but present. This species is a parasite of white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus. The larvae are common in the groin of mice in Aug through late Sept. I have had years where 80% of mice were carrying one or more of these flies and mice can reach densities of over 100 per hectare (2 1/2 acres). So this should be one of our most common bots, although adults are rarely seen. A fun find. Nice to know the adults are flying now.
Jeff

bot fly, rather -- nice shot! looks like Cuterebra fontinella
not closely related to bee flies

Moved from ID Request.

 
Thanks for the information.
Thanks for the information.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.