Oestridae

Reeves, Will K., Adler, Peter H., Grogan, William L. & Super, Paul E., 2004, Hematophagous and Parasitic Diptera (Insecta) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, Zootaxa 483, pp. 1-44 : 23-24

Family Oestridae

Cephenemyia phobifer (Clark)

Collection: North Carolina, Haywood Co., Cataloochee, 1995 , ex deer, coll. unknown.

Cephenemyia phobifer is a nasal/pharyngeal bot of deer. The single Park collection was made from a road­killed deer. This oestrid ranges throughout North America ( Papavero 1977) and is probably widespread in the Park. Bennett (1962) reported that approximately 62% of wild deer can be infected. Cephenemyia phobifer develops in moose and deer but not elk ( Bennett & Sabrosky 1962), so it should not infect the Park elk herd in Cataloochee. Specimens reportedly were stored in the University of Tennessee collection; the museum container was labeled but empty.

Cuterebra abdominalis Swenk

Collection: North Carolina, Swain Co. near Bryson City, July ( Brimley 1938).

Brimley (1938) reported C. abdominalis (as C. cuniculi ) from near Bryson City. Sabrosky (1986) later determined that C. cuniculi is restricted to Florida and southern Georgia. The reported collection might represent a Park record because most collection data at the time were reported from the nearest city. Regardless of the exact collection site, this bot probably occurs in the Park.

Cuterebra buccata (Fabricius)

Collection: Tennessee, Blount Co., Cades Cove near Abrams Creek, 6 June 1959, coll. Muller.

Cuterebra buccata is a rabbit ( Sylvilagus spp.) parasite, but the only specimen taken in the Park was an adult. Linzey (1995) did not report any larval Cuterebra species from Sylvilagus floridanus (Allen) in the Park.

Cuterebra fontinella Clark

Collections: North Carolina, Swain Co. Indian Gap (1672 meters, 35.6109°N, 83.4435°W), 1 October 2001, 3 August 2002, ex red­backed vole, coll. K. Walters; Tennessee, Cocke Co., Snakeden Ridge (993 meters, 35.7434°N, 83.2198°W), 26 August 2002, ex deer mouse, coll. K. Walters; Sevier Co., Twin Creeks, 19 October 1999, ex deer mouse, coll. E. Pivorun; Chimney Tops trailhead, 3 August 2002, ex deer mouse, coll. K.

Walters; Clingman’s Dome (2025 meters, 35.5628°N, 83.4986°W), 21 September 2002, ex red­backed vole, coll. K. Walters.

Morphological, behavioral, and molecular studies are needed to determine the validity of this species, which Sabrosky (1986) considered a subspecies, Cuterebra fontinella fontinella . Cuterebra fontinella was the most commonly collected bot in small rodent surveys, but this trend represents a bias against squirrels and rabbits, which harbor other species of Cuterebra . Cuterebra infestations can increase predation and mortality of mice ( Wecker 1962).

Gastrophilus intestinalis (DeGeer)

Collection: North Carolina, Swain Co., Deep Creek , 1 June 2001, ex horse. The horse stable at Deep Creek is adjacent to the Park boundary, and gastric bots probably stray into the Park from nearby pastures.