Bionomics of Cuterebra austeni (Diptera: Cuterebridae) and Its Association with Neotoma albigula (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in the Southwestern United States

Abstract

Cuterebra austeni Sabrosky causes cutaneous myiasis in white-throated woodrats, Neotoma albigula, in the southwestern United States. In central and southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, this species is bivoltine. Adult flies are active at hilltop aggregation sites from early spring through mid-May and again to a lesser extent in the fall months. Eggs produced from laboratory matings of adult flies hatched in response to warm breath (34-36°C) 6-8 d after oviposition. Oviposition takes place around burrow entrances and near the bases of Opuntia cacti. In the wild, myiasis occurs in woodrats primarily during the spring months, with a small second peak during the fall. Larvae develop in cutaneous warbles in the sternal and the ventral cervical area of N. albigula and complete development in 33 d. Woodrats do not appear to be affected seriously by the presence of 1-5 larvae. Morphological changes in larvae and pupae are described through to adult eclosion.