Lagomorph-parasite
Guides
Cediopsylla
Cediopsylla is a genus of fleas in the family Pulicidae, subfamily Spilopsyllinae. The genus includes species that are 'hormone bound' parasites, with reproductive cycles synchronized to host breeding biology. Cediopsylla simplex, the only well-documented species, parasitizes rabbits and exhibits maturation and breeding patterns controlled by host reproductive hormones. Female fleas mature on pregnant hosts and nestlings, but not on non-pregnant hosts.
Cuterebra
rodent bots, Glire Bot Flies
Cuterebra is a genus of New World bot flies (subfamily Cuterebrinae) comprising approximately 78 species that parasitize rodents and lagomorphs. Adults are large, robust flies resembling bumble bees, with non-functional mouthparts and short lifespans devoted entirely to reproduction. Females oviposit near host burrow entrances; larvae hatch in response to host body heat, enter through natural orifices or wounds, and develop subcutaneously for approximately one month before exiting to pupate in soil. The genus exhibits notable host specificity, with individual species typically restricted to single host species or closely related groups.
Cuterebra buccata
rabbit bot fly
Cuterebra buccata is a New World bot fly in the family Oestridae, commonly known as the rabbit bot fly. Adults are large, bumble bee-sized flies that lack functional mouthparts and do not feed. The species is host-specific to lagomorphs, particularly cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Larvae develop subcutaneously in warbles, feeding on host fluids rather than tissue. Adults are rarely encountered in the field and have short lifespans focused on reproduction.
bot-flymyiasisparasitelagomorphrabbitOestridaeCuterebrinaebumble-bee-mimicrywarblesubcutaneous-parasitehost-specificnon-feeding-adultpupariumCuterebraSylvilaguscottontail-rabbitNew-WorldNorth-AmericaVirginiaMissouriVermontspring-emergencelate-summer-prevalencerarely-encounteredshort-lived-adultevolutionary-coevolutionbenign-parasitismsoil-pupationlarval-migrationsubcutaneous-developmentDipteraInsectaentomologymedical-entomologyveterinary-entomologywildlife-diseaseparasitologyhost-parasite-interactioncuterebridrabbit-parasitelagomorph-parasitebotwarble-flygadflyOestrus-buccataFabricius-1775Cuterebra-buccata-(Fabricius,-1775)Cuterebra cuniculi
rabbit bot fly
Cuterebra cuniculi is a New World skin bot fly endemic to Georgia and Florida. Its larvae are obligate parasites of the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), developing subcutaneously in warbles. Adults are short-lived, lack functional mouthparts, and do not feed.
Cuterebra jellisoni
Cuterebra jellisoni is a species of New World skin bot fly in the family Oestridae. The species is a parasitoid of lagomorphs, specifically documented from the black-tailed jackrabbit subspecies Lepus californicus deserticola. Like other Cuterebra species, it develops as a subcutaneous parasite of mammals, with larvae creating warbles beneath the host's skin. Adults are non-feeding and short-lived, focused solely on reproduction.
Cuterebra mirabilis
Cuterebra mirabilis is a rare species of New World skin bot fly and the largest member of the rabbit-infesting group within the genus Cuterebra. As of 2009, the species was known from only three specimens, all collected in New Mexico. Like other Cuterebra species, it is an obligate parasite of lagomorphs, with larvae developing subcutaneously in host tissue. The specific epithet "mirabilis" (Latin for "extraordinary") reflects the species' remarkable size and striking appearance among bot flies.
Haemaphysalis leporispalustris
rabbit tick, grouse tick
Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, commonly known as the rabbit tick, is a hard tick (family Ixodidae) with one of the widest distributions of any New World tick species, ranging from Alaska to Argentina. It is a three-host tick specialized on lagomorph hosts (rabbits and hares), with larvae also frequently found on ground-dwelling birds. Despite rarely feeding on humans, it serves as a vector for several pathogens affecting wildlife and domestic animals, including Rickettsia rickettsii, Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis. A newly recognized human pathogen, Rickettsia lanei, has been associated with this tick species.