Squirrel Bot Fly Parasite Documentary

Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Parasite Documentary

Another reason besides Zika Virus to avoid mosquito bites in Florida! May be disturbing to some viewers! Bot Flies, Warbles, Wolf Worms, Mango Worms - they have many names, but they are nasty and they are back again this hot summer (Florida, late July 2016). This video shows some of the Backyard Gray Squirrels dealing with this mosquito borne seasonal scourge that they suffer every summer. Not all of the squirrels have them - yet. One poor guy has them in his shoulder, leg and testicles which seems particularly nasty. The video shows them stoically carrying on and doing a lot of scratching and biting. Last year at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orx-xLZrry0

I noted they typically fully recover especially with extra food and fresh water provided by kindly humans. It is also interesting to note that the worst off fellow appears to be eating dirt or charcoal as a way of providing essential nutrients and maybe animal medicine. There really is nothing to be done medically for them as catching wild squirrels and restraining them while trying to cleanly remove and disinfect the worm area would be very stress inducing and risk injury and infection. It is said that these type of bot flies do not transfer to humans by mosquito bites in Florida as they do in Central America, but with Zika and everything else around I try to avoid any mosquito bites - but that's nearly impossible!

  

More detailed information can be found at:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/flies/squirrel_bot_fly.htm

New HD videos uploaded frequently. Subscribe at: 

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Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Parasite Documentary

Squirrel Bot Fly Larvae Parasite Development

Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Larvae Parasite Development

Eastern Gray Squirrel with Bot Fly larva parasite progress report. Update from previous video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrY9YVE61Pg

He is doing better and should fully recover with plenty of water and food - his activity level and overall appearance is good. A few other squirrels have two or three bot fly "warbles" and are also hanging in there. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orx-xLZrry0

Gray squirrels are often infested by one or a few larvae. The large, fluid-draining warbles are often surrounded by patches of bare skin, and appear rather gross. However, an otherwise healthy adult host with access to adequate food and water probably can tolerate at least four to five of these insects with little obvious effect on its behavior other than stimulating efforts to scratch the warbles. But, at higher infestation levels (squirrels with 10 or more larvae have been observed) and in situations where there is a scarcity of food or water, or if the host is an infant, pregnant or nursing infants, these parasites can be harmful. For example, a heavily infested squirrel may become weakened and more vulnerable to predation, a fatal bacterial infection may set in, or a mother squirrel may experience a diminished milk supply leading to the death of her nursing offspring. With gray squirrels, the larvae often are found in the upper torso, although they may occur on the head, limbs and most other areas of the body except the tail.

More info at:  http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/flies/squirrel_bot_fly.htm

New HD videos uploaded weekly. Subscribe at: 

http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=MyBackyardBirding

Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Larvae Parasite Development

Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Larvae Parasite Development

Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Larvae Parasite Development

Helping Squirrels With Bot Fly Parasites

Video: Helping Squirrels With Bot Fly Parasites

A new Backyard Squirrel has a nasty Bot Fly "warble" on the back of his neck. Many squirrels are suffering from this parasite in mid-summer - a little help from humans will improve their chances. Although painful to see them suffer they will all likely survive this seasonal malady. I discuss some ways to help them through this. See my previous mini-documentary on Squirrel Bot Flies at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orx-xLZrry0

Give them plenty of food and water and moral support! Detailed information can be found at:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/flies/squirrel_bot_fly.htm

Watch for a special appearance by the head of the Backyard Watch Program!

New HD videos uploaded weekly. Subscribe at: 

http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=MyBackyardBirding

Video: Helping Squirrels With Bot Fly Parasites

Squirrel Bot Fly Parasite - Mini Documentary

Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Parasite - Mini Documentary

May be disturbing to some viewers.

Gray Squirrels in the Backyard are again afflicted with the larvae of the naturally occurring parasitic Bot Fly. Often mistaken for tumors or squirrel pox it is instead the large "warbles" caused by the Bot Fly and for the last two years it has become a summer phenomena in the Florida Backyard. There are approximately eight Backyard squirrels at any given time and nearly all will get at least a few larvae. Although painful to see them suffer they will all likely survive this seasonal malady. Give them plenty of food and water and moral support! Detailed information can be found at:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/flies/squirrel_bot_fly.htm

Video: Squirrel Bot Fly Parasite - Mini Documentary