Horse Fly

Horseflies are types of insects which are the members of Tabanidae family. These stout looking flies can be as small as house flies or as huge as bumblebees. The green-headed monster of an insect has iridescent or metallic eyes which meet dorsally in male horse flies, but they remain separate in female flies. Let’s check out everything there is to know about the horsefly and how you can stay a few moon steps away from its bite.

How does a Horse Fly look like?

The adult tabanids have prominent compound eyes and are large flies with widebodies, and short antennae which are composed of three different segments. However, in females, the horse flies have eyes which are widely separated, but in the male horse flies, it appears like they are touching to one another.

These flies are often patterned and appear in bright, vibrant colors. The antennae’s terminal segment is annulated and pointed. It appears to be made of various tapering rings. No arista or hair can be seen rising from the antennae. The head and thorax of the insect are covered in short hair. There are absolutely no bristles present on the body of the horsefly.

It has clear membranous forewings which are uniformly shaded brown or grey, and in some species, it is patterned. They have a calypter or basal lobe which keeps the modified halteres or knob-like hindwings covered. The identification of the species depends on the details present on its head – antennae, maxillae, and frons.

Habitat of the Horse Fly

The horse flies are present worldwide bar the polar regions. They are also missing from islands like Hawaii, Iceland, and Greenland. The general Chrysops, Haematopoto, and Tabanus, generally occur in the tropical, subtropical, and temperate locations. They occur in moist and warm areas which is suitable for their breeding purposes. It doesn’t fail to occupy a myriad of habitats ranging from the Alpine meadows to the deserts.

Life Cycle

Similar to other flies, the horse fly also develops from an egg and grows into an adult via the process of metamorphosis. The lifespan of an adult horse fly is limited to thirty to sixty days.

Eating Habits

The adult horse fly feeds itself on plant exudes and nectar. There are also a few species of horse flies which serve as pollinators of specialized flowers. The species of horse fly found in Asia and South Africa have a spectacular proboscis (which are quite long) and are used for extraction of nectar. It helps them to extract nectar from narrow, long corolla tubes of flowers.

Both male and female horse fly engage themselves in nectar-feeding; however, in the majority of the female horse fly species, they need a blood meal to reproduce. In order to obtain blood, the female horsefly bites animals – this includes humans as well. It takes a female a whole week to digest the blood she has consumed, and once it’s done, she looks for another host. They choose large mammals for this purpose – horses, cattle, deer, and camels.

Are Horse Flies Dangerous?

Horse flies, or particularly the female horse, flies love to feed on large animals. This is also crucial for them because it helps them reproduce. They are extremely attracted to dark, moving objects and also carbon dioxide. Now, do you understand the reason why horseflies are attracted to you when you are outside in the summer enjoying physical activity, sweating heavily and trying to catch your breath?

Horse flies might feel like they are on a mission which is pure vengeance, then you’re right. Female horse flies are extremely persistent, and when the first bite doesn’t feel satisfactory, they will continue in their pursuit. If anyone has ever been bitten by a horse fly, they will know how excruciating the pain is.

It is the presence of mandible on the fly that makes the bites extremely painful. Mandible is basically the jaw of the insect. It has got scissors like a jaw which will easily pierce right into your skin. There are small hooks present on the mandible of a horse fly which helps it to feed better. Once the horse fly locks itself on the skin, it will continue to suck the blood unless it’s done. The bites cause a burning, sharp sensation. One will experience swelling inflammation and itchiness around the area of the bite. It can even result in a bruise.

Though the bites are basically harmless, it poses a threat to horses. It carries along with equine infectious anemia, which is known as swamp fever. This means an equine animal will face life-threatening diseases because of it.

Pictures

Here are some Pictures of Horse flies:

Horse Fly Bites

The flying insect with painful bites can be extremely painful. Though, rare these bites can transform into serious allergies. In order to treat the bites of such a monstrous insect, one has to identify the signs of the bite. The method that horse flies use to bite takes longer to heal.

The characteristics of the horsefly bite:

• The bite appears like a puncture hole and not a cut.
• The horsefly uses scissor-like mouthparts to cause the wound.
• It will mop up the blood when it is done cutting through your skin.

You will be able to identify the horsefly bites with the redness, weal, and pain. People need to watch out, whether redness present on the bite is spreading or not. If some form of discharge is oozing out of the wound or there is pus coming out of the wound – then it is definitely a sign of horse fly bite. Increased swelling and pain are signs of an infection. Otherwise, horse flies are not dangerous to humans.

The symptoms of a serious reaction to horse fly comprise of:

• Wheezing
• Dizziness
• Temporary swollen skin

More severe reactions include:

• Diarrhea
• Throat and tongue swelling
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Difficulty in breathing or swallow
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Treatment for Horse Fly Bite

The treatment for this particular insect is similar to all the other types of insect bite. Do consult a doctor because the bite might transform into an infection –

• No scratching of the wound. This increases the chance of an infection.
• Clean the area of the bite with clean water and antiseptic soap. Make sure you use cotton wool or clean cloth to get it done.
• Reduce the swelling with an ice pack or cold compress. Hold it directly on the area of the bite.

How can you get rid of the problem of Horse flies?

A common nuisance that one has to face is house flies and the painful cuts they present. Though, they have a reputation for being extremely difficult to control; there are some options that you can try to keep them at bay.

• Make the most of traps: Easily available in the market are the non-toxic, physical traps. This work amazingly in areas where there are a lot of plants, people, or livestock.
• You can make your own trap: Start by hanging a stool from your shed’s ceiling. You will need to dangle a ball from the bottom of your stool. It should also be medium-sized and dark colored. Place flypaper at the bottom of the stool and swing the ball. Horseflies are attracted to both dark and moving things. When they find that the object isn’t worth their time, it will move upwards and get trapped on the paper.
• Use of chemicals: Buy effective chemicals from the market, which will have an impact on every type of insect infestation.
• Home Remedy: Make a solution with dish soap liquid and water. You have to combine a cup of the liquid soap with water (a gallon). Spray directly on the insects.

If you have animals, then you should always keep them clean. The area where they are living should also be cleaned from time and again.

Did You Know About These Horse Fly Facts?

These little buggers are terrors, and whoever has experienced their bite knows how terrifying it can be. But, there are some interesting, fun facts that you need to know about them. Are you ready to learn some fun facts?

1. The scissor-like apparatus on the mouth of a horse fly is used to pierce the skin. It then severs the capillaries, and this results in upwelling of blood.
2. The infection caused is not because of the bite but is caused by a virus, fungi, or bacteria.
3. There are several species of horse fly which remain immune to pesticides.
4. They hunt by the power of sight. The eyes of a horsefly can detect movement, and they wait for big mammals to come their way. They are also attracted by the smell mammals have and carbon dioxide.
5. The color of a horse fly’s eyes is a beautiful combination of different shades – red, amber, and green. There are also some hues of gold and purple present in them.

This is all there is to know about horse flies.