Incidence of Botfly Infestation in the Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata)

Infestation of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) by sarcophagid botflies was studied over 38 yrs in western Nebraska. At least 2% of captured individuals were infected, primarily in late spring following warm temperatures in the previous September. Botflies may be a significant cause of mortality in box turtles in some years.