Cuterebra cuniculi
(Clark, 1797)
rabbit bot fly
Cuterebra cuniculi is a New World skin bot fly to Georgia and Florida. Its larvae are obligate of the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), developing subcutaneously in warbles. are short-lived, lack functional mouthparts, and do not feed.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cuterebra cuniculi: /kjuːˈtɛrɪbrə kuːˈnɪkjʊlaɪ/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Restricted to Georgia and Florida, distinguishing it from most with broader distributions. specificity to eastern cottontail and marsh rabbit provides supporting evidence, though definitive identification requires examination of by a . Seven North American Cuterebra are rabbit-infesting; C. cuniculi is among the most geographically restricted.
Habitat
are found in open near rabbit burrow systems, including sandy ground, glade edges, and early successional areas. Larval habitat is subcutaneous tissue of living lagomorph .
Distribution
to the southeastern United States: restricted to Georgia and Florida.
Seasonality
active in spring and early summer (April–May based on observations of related rabbit bot flies). Larvae present in during warmer months. Overwinters as pupae in soil.
Host Associations
- Sylvilagus floridanus - larval eastern cottontail
- Sylvilagus palustris - larval marsh rabbit
Life Cycle
lay near rabbit burrow entrances. Eggs hatch in response to body heat; first instar larvae enter host through natural orifices or skin breaks, migrate subcutaneously, and form warbles. Larvae feed on host fluids (not tissue) for approximately one month, molting to second and third instars. Mature third instar exits host, drops to ground, burrows into soil, and pupates. Adults emerge from the following spring. Adults lack functional mouthparts and do not feed.
Behavior
are rarely encountered, short-lived, and focused exclusively on . Females oviposit in rather than directly on hosts. Larvae exhibit precise host-finding , responding to thermal and chemical cues.
Ecological Role
Obligate with relatively benign relationship attributed to long coevolutionary history with specific lagomorph hosts. Individual larvae may constitute up to 5% of host body mass. -level impacts on hosts are not well documented.
Human Relevance
No human recorded. Accidental handling of infested rabbits poses no risk to humans, as transmission requires deposition in burrow environment and larval response to host-specific cues.
Similar Taxa
- Cuterebra buccataAlso parasitizes rabbits; distinguished by distribution (broader range) and subtle morphological differences in banding and body coloration
- Cuterebra abdominalisRabbit bot fly with broader distribution; have distinctive abdominal patterning and characteristics
- Cuterebra fontinellaParasitizes rodents (white-footed mice, not rabbits); distinguished by association and geographic range
More Details
Taxonomic note
Formerly placed in Cuterebridae, now treated as Cuterebrinae within Oestridae.
Evolutionary context
The extreme specificity and relatively benign parasitic relationship exemplifies the 'old host' pattern in Cuterebra, where long association with single or few closely related hosts results in reduced .