19/08/2026
⚠️ WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW! ⚠️
These photos show botfly larvae (Cuterebra) inside a chipmunk and what they look like after being removed. If you’re squeamish, you may want to scroll past this one!
What is THAT?! 👀
If you've ever spotted a strange lump with a little breathing hole on a wild animal, you may have encountered a Cuterebra, commonly known as a rodent or rabbit botfly.
Adult Cuterebra flies are large, bee-like flies that don't bite or feed. Instead, females lay their eggs near the entrances of animal burrows and along areas frequented by their hosts. When a small mammal passes by, the eggs hatch in response to the animal's body heat, and the tiny larvae make their way into the host.
Once inside, the larva eventually settles beneath the skin, where it grows and develops for roughly a month. A small opening in the skin allows it to breathe while it feeds and grows. By the time it reaches its mature stage, that tiny larva can become surprisingly large!
When it's ready, the larva exits the animal, drops to the ground, and pupates before emerging as an adult fly to start the cycle all over again.
For most healthy wild rodents, a single Cuterebra isn't necessarily life-threatening, although the larva and the resulting wound can cause irritation, inflammation, and secondary infection. In some cases, larvae can migrate to unusual locations and cause much more serious problems.
We often encounter these fascinating parasites as part of wildlife rehabilitation, especially during the warmer months. Nature isn't always cute—but there's always something interesting to learn! 🪰🐿️
