page_title: Cuterebra fontinella
section_title: Home range and territoriality
hierarchical_section_title: Cuterebra fontinella / Home range and territoriality
caption_attribution_description: English: Cuterebra larva, adult lateral. Genus characteristics: 1- Fully mature larvae are stout and covered in scale-like spines. 2- Posterior spiracles of larvae are kidney shaped and with many fine, curved openings. 3- Alula of the wing is conspicuously large. 4- Abdomen and thorax is densely covered with short setae. 5- Mouthparts are residual.
context_page_description: Cuterebra fontinella, the mouse bot fly, is a species of New World skin bot fly in the family Oestridae. C. fontinella is typically around 1 mm long with a black and yellow color pattern. C. fontinella develops by parasitizing nutrients from its host, typically the white-footed mouse. C. fontinella has even been known to parasitize humans in rare cases. Individuals parasitized by C. fontinella will develop a large bump on the skin that is indicative of parasitization.
context_section_description: C. fontinella are territorial insects. Males chase away intruding males while patrolling their territory by flying in figure-eight and oval patterns. Since females only fly when looking for a mate, it is important that the male controls as much high-quality territory as he can. C. fontinella are territorial and congregate above heat reflecting surfaces on roadsides and near streams. These flies are very dependent on temperature, so even though they can live in a vast array of latitudes, the climate they live in influences their prevalence throughout the year.
caption: Different Life Stages of Cuterebra Flies
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