COMMON WILDLIFE DISEASES
and PARASITES in
the NWT & Nunavut
Warble
fly larvae under caribou skin.
Warbles
are parasitic
larvae
of the warble fly.
Lifecycle:
The adult fly lays eggs on the hairs of the caribou’s legs
and lower body. The
larvae hatch, penetrate the skin, and travel under the skin to the
caribou’s back. The
warbles grow there until early summer, when they break through the
skin and drop to the ground.
In
the NWT and Nunavut, warble fly larvae are very common in caribou and
reindeer.
|
What
are the signs of warbles? |
Caribou
usually appear healthy, although animals with heavy infections may be
weak.
While
laying their eggs, warble flies can harass caribou and interfere with
feeding.
Warble
fly larvae are found under the skin on the caribou’s back.
Larvae
are yellowish-white, oval grubs about
2.5 cms long.
There
is often swelling and fluid in nearby
tissue.
The
number of warbles can range from 1 to over 100 on each animal.
|
How
can I protect myself? |
You
cannot be infected by warble flies or their larvae.
Meat
from affected animals is suitable for human consumption.
Warbles
in caribou reduce the quality of both hide and carcass.
larvae
of the warble fly
Photo
credit: P. Nicklen
|
