Ophthalmomyiasis
Guides
Hypoderma tarandi
Reindeer Warble Fly, Reindeer Botfly, Caribou Bot Fly
Hypoderma tarandi is a parasitic warble fly (Diptera: Oestridae) that infests reindeer and caribou across Arctic and subarctic regions. Adult females lay eggs on host hair shafts; larvae penetrate the skin and develop in subcutaneous tissues, creating warble lesions. The species has exceptionally strong flight capacity in females, with maximum lifetime flight distances estimated at 600–900 km, an adaptation linked to the migratory behavior of its host. Adults do not feed; they rely entirely on fat reserves accumulated during larval development. The species causes economic damage to hides, meat, and milk production in domesticated herds and has been documented causing ophthalmomyiasis in humans.