Rarely-observed-adult
Guides
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 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.
Spectralia robusta
Spectralia robusta is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. The species is known from North America, with records from Texas. It develops in living or partially living branches of its host plant, with adults emerging through distinct exit holes. The species has been reared from collected host material rather than observed as free-living adults.