Cephenemyia apicata

Adult C. apicata can be distinguished from the sympatric C. jellisoni by male aggregation behavior and stratification patterns at shared sites; C. jellisoni males appear to dominate or occupy different vertical strata. First instar larvae differ from C. jellisoni in specific morphological characters detailed in taxonomic revisions. The species' western distribution helps separate it from northeastern C. phobifera and northern C. trompe.

Adult males aggregate at upper hillside and summit stands of Castanopsis sp. and Quercus sp. rising 2–10 feet above surrounding scrub vegetation. Larval habitat is within the respiratory system of Columbian black-tailed deer, specifically bronchi during first instar and retropharyngeal pouches in later instars.

Western North America; specifically documented in California. The species has a western distribution within the Nearctic region, distinct from the northwestern distribution of C. jellisoni, northeastern distribution of C. phobifera, and northern distribution of C. trompe.

Adult activity occurs from April through late July. Daily activity begins at 20°C air temperature and ends soon after mid-day. First instar larvae undergo development during fall and winter months, ensuring pupal development and adult eclosion during favorable spring and summer conditions.

• Odocoileus hemionus columbianus - obligate parasiteColumbian black-tailed deer; larvae develop in bronchi (first instar) and retropharyngeal pouches (later instars)

First instar larvae undergo a long obligate period of development and growth in the bronchi of deer before molting and migrating to retropharyngeal pouches. This 6–8 month lung phase during fall/winter ensures pupal development and adult eclosion occur during favorable external conditions. This represents the first documented obligatory lung phase in the genus Cephenemyia.

Adult males aggregate at specific elevated sites and exhibit intraspecific and intrageneric chasing. Marked males remain at specific sites throughout daily activity. One observed mating involved a flying pair uniting above the aggregation site and dropping in tandem to vegetation below. Females exhibit a visible attack strategy: landing on or near deer, becoming objects of attraction that elicit deer curiosity, then attacking from perched positions. After larviposition into nostrils, deer jerk back heads, sneeze, shake heads, and lower noses to ground. Females exhibit risk-spreading larviposition, depositing larvae on a host only once before flying away.

• Cephenemyia jellisoniSympatric in western North America and shares host Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. Distinguished by covert, inaudible hovering-stalking flight in females versus visible landing behavior in C. apicata; male dominance or stratification at aggregation sites; and morphological differences in first instar larvae.
• Cephenemyia phobiferaNortheastern distribution; larvae in Odocoileus virginianus and Alces americana rather than O. hemionus columbianus.
• Cephenemyia trompeNorthern distribution; primarily parasitizes Rangifer spp. (reindeer/caribou) in addition to O. hemionus.

• parasite
• deer parasite
• respiratory parasite
• myiasis
• western North America
• aggregation behavior
• risk-spreading reproduction

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• Wednesday “What the heck?” | Beetles In The Bush
• Corrected misidentification of first instars of the bot flies Cephenemyia apicata and C . jellisoni , with a review of the biology and life history of both species
• The behavior of nose bot flies (Cephenemyia apicata and C. jellisoni) when attacking black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and the resulting reactions of the deer
• Field Behavior of Adult Cephenemyia (Diptera: Oestridae),
• THE NEARCTIC SPECIES OF THE GENUS CEPHENEMYIA (DIPTERA, OESTRIDAE)
• Risk‐spreading larviposition behaviour of female nose bot flies ( Cephenemyia ) attacking black‐tailed deer