Subject: Bot fly larva found in house!
Location: Cherokee County, NC
July 24, 2013 7:28 am
We found this fat little fellow slowly inching across the floor of our family room earlier this morning. Last night our cat decided to entertain herself by bringing in a dead mouse, so I think the little maggot likely came from the unfortunate rodent. It measured about an inch when scrunched up in the shape pictured, and a little longer when tying to move.
The mouse appeared to be a common house mouse, so I’m thinking it might be a Rodent bot fly, perhaps?
Signature: Jacob
Dear Jacob,
Your Bot Fly Larva photo is a welcome addition to our site. Your speculation that it came from the mouse your cat brought in is most likely correct.
We live just south of Denver and our German Shorthair is infested with 5-7 bot maggots, probably a rabbit variety as he is constantly hunting, investigating, and pointing on rabbit dens. I have one of the maggots in our freezer because I discovered it as it popped out when I was checking to see if the the puncture wounds we thought he had were getting infected and required a visit to the vet. I called the vet who told us we could wait and they would come out on their own as long as he is not acting sick. I am wondering how to keep him from hosting them in the future.
That is information best received from your veterinarian as we are leery of providing medical advice.