Caribou Bot Fly vs Indian Tse Tse-like Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Caribou Bot Fly Indian Tse Tse-like Fly
Scientific Name Cephenemyia jellisoni Hippobosca maculata
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Oestridae Hippoboscidae
Size 12-16 mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Heathland Farmland
Diet Omnivores Blood Feeders
Regions Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories South Asia (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh)
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.

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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.

Indian Tse Tse-like Fly

A flattened, leathery ectoparasitic fly that feeds on the blood of horses, cattle, and dogs. It has powerful claws for gripping hair and feathers and moves sideways through the host's coat with ease.

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Did You Know?

These flies are so tenacious that they can run sideways through animal fur and are extremely difficult to swat or remove.