Caribou Bot Fly vs Sonorensis Biting Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Caribou Bot Fly | Sonorensis Biting Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cephenemyia jellisoni | Culicoides sonorensis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Oestridae | Ceratopogonidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories | North America, especially southwestern United States |
| 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.
Sonorensis Biting Midge
A small biting midge that is the primary vector of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in North America. It breeds in muddy margins of dairy wastewater ponds and is most abundant in the southwestern United States. It is responsible for severe livestock disease outbreaks.
Did You Know?
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease transmitted by this midge kills thousands of white-tailed deer across North America annually.