A Cuterebra parasite is an opportunistic larval parasite found under the skin. Cuterebra are also known as botflies, and they are opportunistic in that they use the small mammals (dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, etc.) to complete their life cycle.
The adult files are large and do not feed on or bite animals. Eggs are deposited around burrows and low-lying vegetation, stones, and objects. The eggs stick on the animal host as the host passes by, and then the eggs hatch in response to the body heat of the animal. The hatched larvae enter the body through the mouth or nose during grooming, or less commonly, through an open wound in the animal. The larvae then migrate to specific areas on the body under the skin. The larvae make a small hole in the skin to breathe, and roughly 30 days later, they exit the animal host, pupate on the ground, and become an adult fly.
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