Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Alpaca health · Parasites

Nasal Bots in Alpacas

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team5 peer-reviewed references
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Monitor and manage

Usually manageable with good husbandry; involve your vet if it worsens.

Fly larvae that develop in the nasal passages, reported in camelids in some regions.

Category
Parasites
Urgency
Monitor and manage

Signs & symptoms

  • Sneezing and snorting
  • Nasal discharge
  • Head shaking, rubbing the nose

Related symptom guides: Runny Nose & Coughing.

What causes it?

Bot flies deposit larvae around the nostrils; larvae crawl into the nasal cavity and sinuses.

Risk factors

  • Summer fly season
  • Regions with sheep or deer bot flies

How vets diagnose it

Clinical signs and finding larvae.

Treatment

Your vet may prescribe an antiparasitic effective against bots.

Prevention

  • Fly control around barns

Research & references

PubMed lists 5 peer-reviewed papers on this topic in camelids. The most relevant include:

  1. Parasitism in llamas. Cheney JM, Allen GT The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice, 1989. PubMed 2647235 · DOI · cited 14×
  2. First report on nasal myiasis in an alpaca "Vicugna pacos" - a case report. Punsmann TM, Grimm LM, Reckmann C et al. BMC veterinary research, 2018. PubMed 30514380 · DOI · Free full textOpen access · cited 2×
  3. First record of nasopharyngeal myiasis caused by Cephalopina titillator (Clark, 1816) in camel (Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus, 1758) in Uzbekistan. Safarov A, Kunisov B, Arepbaev I et al. Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports, 2024. PubMed 38772645 · DOI · cited 2×
  4. A case of nasal myiasis due to Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae) in a llama (Lama glama). Gomez-Puerta LA, Alroy KA, Ticona DS et al. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria, 2013. PubMed 24473891 · DOI · cited 10×
  5. Upper airway obstruction in a llama caused by aberrant nasopharyngeal bots (Cephenemyia sp.). Mattoon JS, Gerros TC, Parker JE et al. Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association, 1997. PubMed 9335098 · DOI · cited 7×

Frequently asked questions

What is nasal Bots in alpacas?
Fly larvae that develop in the nasal passages, reported in camelids in some regions.
What are the signs of nasal Bots?
Sneezing and snorting, nasal discharge and head shaking, rubbing the nose.
How do you prevent nasal Bots?
Fly control around barns.
Is nasal Bots an emergency?
Monitor and manage. Usually manageable with good husbandry; involve your vet if it worsens.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.