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.

EENY482, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Stephanie Larrick and Mark Mitola, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes this small blackish beetle that is found worldwide and infests goods made from animal products, such as carpets, wool, textiles, and preserved museum specimens — distribution, description, life cycle, economic importance, and management. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, September 2010. EENY482/IN873: Common Carpet Beetle Anthrenus scrophulariae (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Dermestidae) (ufl.edu)