Caribou Bot Fly vs Apple Maggot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Caribou Bot Fly | Apple Maggot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cephenemyia jellisoni | Rhagoletis pomonella |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Oestridae | Tephritidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Orchards |
| Diet | Omnivores | Fruit Feeders |
| Regions | Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Caribou Bot Fly
A robust, furry fly that parasitizes caribou and deer in North America. Like its Eurasian relative, it deposits larvae near the nostrils of its host. Adults have vestigial mouthparts and survive entirely on stored energy.
Did You Know?
Infected caribou may sneeze violently to expel mature bot fly larvae from their nasal passages before the larvae pupate in the soil.
Apple Maggot Fly
A fruit fly pest whose larvae tunnel through apple flesh causing brown trails. It is a textbook example of sympatric speciation by host plant shifting.
Did You Know?
It shifted from native hawthorn to introduced apple trees in under 200 years, creating genetically distinct races.