Rabbit Bot Fly

This species is not only the most common Bot Fly in Brazil, but also it is found in more quantity than all the other sepecies put together.<br>

It is easily recognized by the pattern, but some comments are necessary in order to avoid confusion with other species, doubtful or very similar. Its size is mediocre; the largest specimen that I have (a male) has 23 mm of total body length and 16 mm in the wing, while the smallest samples have body of 17 mm and wing of 14 mm, ranging these sizes more to body than to the wing.<br>

The background color is brown or reddish brown, either on the body as in the wings; in the abdomen back becomes almost black, but always with metallic blue shining ; the color on the background of legs may be reddish-brown dark (never black) but with black hairs and pitchy front calluses.<br>

The shell scutch (which in species well preserved is dense and velvety) is usually ocraceo, turning sometimes in off-white or yellow-red, varies slightly depending on the incidence of light and due to the transparency of the background when the scutch is scarcer.<br>

The female is darker than the male and the alulas, of both sexes, are rather darker than the wings. The eyes of females (probably also the males) have over the life a slash, brick color. The third female antennal articulo have the dorsal edge, near the apex, a deep foveola, probably representing a sense organ and missing in the other sex.<br>

This species is widespread reaching the Mexico. The larvae live in Holochilus vulpinus and probably other Americans Murinae.<br>

- By Adolpho Lutz<br><br>

Source: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/mioc/v9n1/tomo09(f1)_94-113.pdf