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Horse-flies and deer flies [a] are true flies in the family Tabanidae in the insect order Diptera. The adults are often large and agile in flight. Only female horseflies bite land vertebrates, including humans, to obtain blood. They prefer to fly in sunlight, avoiding dark and shady areas, and are inactive at night.
Tabanus sudeticus, also known as the dark giant horsefly, is a species of biting horse-fly. [5] [6] It is the heaviest fly in Europe. [7] Description.
Tabaninae is a subfamily in the family Tabanidae commonly known as horse flies. There are more than 3000 described species in Tabaninae. There are more than 3000 described species in Tabaninae. [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
Tabanus americanus, the American horse fly, is a species of horse-fly in the family Tabanidae. [4] [5] American horse fly, Tabanus americanus. Distribution.
Tabanus punctifer, commonly known as the western horse fly, is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. [2] [3] This species of horse fly is approximately 20.5 mm (0.8 in) long. [4] They are typically found throughout the southern and western parts of the United States. They can be found between Utah and Mexico, and between California ...
These horse flies can be encountered during the daylight hours from late May through late October. [5] The males are harmless and feed on nectar, [7] while the females feed on mammal blood (hematophagy) (hence the Latin name Haematopota pluvialis, literally meaning 'blooddrinker of the rains'), mainly cattle and horses, needing blood for developing eggs.
Adult horse flies can be found in July and August. Males of this species feed on plant juices, while female are bloodsuckers. The females have a high fecundity. They can lay about 500 eggs at an oviposition. The larvae pass through 10–13 instars and the full life-cycle lasts 3–5 years. This horsefly may cause appreciable damages on stock farms.
These common horse flies can be encountered in Summer in high mountain at an altitude of over 2000 meters during the daylight hours, when they mainly feed on nectar of flowers (especially of Apiaceae species). Females attack mainly horses and cattle.