We caught and killed this rat today. It had this bug burrowed in its neck. I have goats and dogs which have never had these on them. There are horses about a half mile away. I've heard of larger livestock having something like this but a rat is so small compared to them. What is this called?
Here is the rat and the hole I got it out of.
Here is its feeding mouth parts?
It's a rodent bot fly in the family Cuterebridae - see http://www.unbc.ca/nlui/wildlife_diseases/cuterebra.htm
Your last photo appears to show its tail end where its spiracular openings are.
This message was edited Nov 11, 2008 1:43 PM
