Common Name: Horse fly

Latin Name: Tabanus spp. and others

Common Family Name: Horse and Deer flies

Latin Family Name: Tabanidae

Other Names: Green heads, gad flies

Origin of Fly:

A number of native species occur in North America, particularly in the more humid states where the moist conditions the larvae need are available year-round.

Biology of Fly:

Horse fly females are blood feeders, while the males feed on plant juices. The mouthparts of the female are scissors-like, and they slash open the skin, cause the blood to flow with their saliva, and lap up the blood. They are not incriminated as vectors of any specific diseases in North America, but are extremely annoying, have painful bites, and can be serious threats to the health of livestock or horses when they feed in large numbers. The larvae of many species are predators, living in moist soils, under wet leaf litter, or even in running water. They may live in the mud at the bottom of ponds or ditches, feeding on other organisms that come nearby.

Fly Identification:

Horseflies are some of the largest flies in North America, with adults of some species growing to over an inch long, and with a wingspan of 2.5 inches. They are heavy bodied with the abdomen tapering to a narrow end, and colors range from black to brown, sometimes with stripes or spots on them. Quite often their eyes are rainbow colored with green, pink and reddish hues. The antennae are very distinctive, being stout and elongate, and on horseflies the large third segment has a tooth-like projection at its base.

If you want to get more information, please click the link below.

HOW TO GET RID OF HOUSE AND HORSE FLIES

DRAIN AND FRUIT FLY CONTROL