From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gasterophilus haemorrhoidalis (also called nose bot) is a species of the genus Gasterophilus that lays eggs on and in the nose of reindeer and similar animals. The larvae grow in the sinuses and throat of the host animal, and are sneezed out in the spring. They do not attack humans. It is also related to the reason why Dall sheep eat and stay above the tree line, where nose bot flies cannot live. The issue is where the nosebot lays eggs in the sinuses of the Dall sheep which happen to reside near the base of the horns. When the eggs hatch, the maggot feed upon the layer of tissue at the base of the horn. This doesn't seem to show any signs of bothering the sheep in any physical way. However, when the Dall sheep goes to break the tip of its horns off when they become too long and begin to impede the sheep's eyesight, instead of breaking the tip off the whole horn will break off, exposing the Dall sheep's brain, killing it rather quickly.
[edit] External links