title: A case study of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) causing ocular myiasis in a western hognose snake.
abstract: Late instar larvae of the scuttle fly, Megaselia scalaris Loew, were found near the right eye of a live captive-reared western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus Baird and Girard. Dissection and removal of the snake's dorsal cranial bones revealed tissue degradation of the infected eye, the optic nerve, and the brain case; we suggest that these factors contributed to the death of this snake. This case study further demonstrates the opportunistic behavior of M. scalaris.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Building 970, Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Diclaro
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mitola
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Koehler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017812:Colubridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005431:Florida; D007814:Larva; D009198:Myiasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology