PARASITES OF MAMMALS ON THE SEVILLETA-NATIONAL-WILDLIFE-REFUGE, SOCORRO, NEW-MEXICO - CUTEREBRA-AUSTENI AND CUTEREBRA-NEOMEXICANA - (DIPTERA, OESTRIDAE) FROM NEOTOMA AND PEROMYSCUS (RODENTIA, MURIDAE), 1991-1994

In total, 6,486 rodents representing 3 families (Muridae, Heteromyidae , and Sciuridae) and 24 species were trapped May through August of 199 1 through 1994. Of these, only the white-throated woodrat, Neotoma alb igula Hartley; pinon mouse, Peromyscus truei Shufeldt; and white-foote d mouse, P. leucopus Rafinesque, were infested with Cuterebra Clark la rvae. Of the 594 N. albigula that were captured, 103 (17.3%) were infe sted with 139 Cuterebra larvae with all infestations occurring in the throat region. N. albigula infestations were observed in 4 of 5 habita ts sampled. The highest prevalence of infestation occurred during May- June (27.2%) versus July-August (9.1%) and in males (25.2%) versus fem ales (18.3%). Prevalence of infestation was not significantly differen t between animals from the mark-release webs versus removal webs or ad ults versus juveniles. Also, there was no correlation between relative density of N. albigula and prevalence of infestation. Fifteen adults were reared from puparia and identified as C. austeni Sabrosky. Of 716 P. truei captured, 22 (3.1%) were infested with a total of 25 Cutereb ra larvae with all infestations occurring in the scapular region. Alth ough P. truei were captured in all 5 habitats, they were only infested in the pinion-juniper habitat; the highest prevalence of infestation occurred during July-August (10.9%) versus May-June (3.3%). Prevalence of infestation was not significantly different between animals from m ark-release webs versus removal webs, males versus females, or adults versus juveniles. As in the N. albigula, there was no correlation betw een relative density of P. truei and prevalence of infestation. The ad ult reared from a puparium was identified as C. neomexicana Sabrosky. Of the 310 P. leucopus captured, only 3 (1%) were infested with Cutere bra larvae.