photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
Fletcher Wildlife Garden | all galleries >> Flies (Diptera) of the FWG (21 galleries) >> Deer and Horse Flies (Family: Tabanidae) > Horse fly (Tabanus atratus)
previous | next
Lisa Valancius

Horse fly (Tabanus atratus)

This whopper of a fly is a large, very distinctive looking member of the Tabanidae, the horse flies (which also includes deer flies). FWG visitor, Lisa, found this sitting on a milkweed near the centre. This fly could inflict a noticeable bite, but in fact, these gals (and it is only the females who bite) prefer to bite cattle not people. So this one may have wandered over from the farm where the cows are.


other sizes: small medium large original auto
previous | next
Blandine Mangin05-Aug-2013 15:29
beautiful close-up ! v
Lieve Snellings05-Aug-2013 02:58
wow she is looking scarry... V
Guest 04-Aug-2013 22:39
Ouch! In parts of southern Australia, similar large flies of the Tabanid family
can sometimes be a biting nuisance in early autumn, hence their local name
of "March" flies - not to be confused with your non-biting flies of that name.
Martin Lamoon04-Aug-2013 16:37
Nasty things, they do bite people in the UK! V
Ceya04-Aug-2013 15:11
Excellent macro shot! Great pose, interesting information! V
joseantonio04-Aug-2013 04:08
Interesting information. Didn´t know about the details that only females bite...V.
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment