Horse Fly Size report
Horseflies are insects of the family Diptera. Adults are larger than the average housefly, with a large head and fine hairs on the body surface, like a bee. The scary thing about the horsefly is that it mainly feeds on the blood of mammals. The horsefly lays its eggs on horses' hair, donkeys, mules, etc. The hatched larvae are carried into the body when the animal licks the hair and is parasitic in the stomach. Its larvae are called bots.
Horseflies are notorious pests of horses and other mammals. They are commonly found in suburban and rural areas near bodies of water, which serve as breeding sites, and where mammal hosts are most abundant.
For centuries, Horse Fly's behavior and bites have been so bothersome that they are mentioned in classic literature, myth, and song. Horsefly bites usually cause red, swollen, itchy wounds that can fester in severe cases. The first step in preventing horseflies is learning how to identify the insect. You can find more details about horse flies in this post, such as the habits, size, appearance, etc.
Horse Fly General Descriptions
Horse Flies, also known as Gadflies, are super-sized flies. Some bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted from animal to animal through a Horse Fly bite; some treatable diseases like tularemia can be passed from animal to human. We can see horses and other animals are using their tails to swat at flies trying to feed on their back and legs. This section will teach you how to identify the horse flies.
Appearance
All Horse Flies have large eyes. Horseflies have a robust body that is usually covered with tiny hairs. They have a pair of large compound eyes on the head and prominent mouthparts that extend downward. Horseflies vary in color, with many being black, grey, or brown and some having blue, green, or yellow patterns. They can also be whole black, including the eyes and wings.
Average Size
Horse flies can be easily identified by their large size. Most species of horse fly are approximately 0.5 to 1.25 inches in length.
Habitat And Living Haibits
They live in forests and woodlands. Horse Flies are active during the day and rest at night. They do not like darkness and usually feed during full daylight and are most evident on windless, hot, sunny days. Horseflies often rest on paths and roads, especially in wooded areas, where they wait for potential hosts. Horseflies are attracted to light and will sometimes congregate at windows.
Reproduction
The horsefly secretes a glue-like substance and then sticks its eggs to the horse's fur, lips, nose, and throat. Females lay fertilized eggs that hatch to larvae within a week. The peculiar way of laying eggs is the unique skill of this horse fly, and the larvae of those fly burrow into the skin and use the subcutaneous tissue of the skin as food.
Feeding
Adult horse flies typically feed on nectar, but females require a blood meal before reproducing effectively. Once on a host, they use their knife-like mouthparts to slice the skin and feed on the created blood pool. Female horse fly bites can be very painful, and there may be an allergic reaction to the salivary secretions released by the insects as they feed. Male flies feed on nectar and are of no consequence as animal pests.
Horse Fly vs House Fly
Horse Fly | House Fly | |
---|---|---|
Average height | 5–20 millimeters | 6–7 millimeters |
Lifespan | 3–4 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
Eggs | Batches of 400–500 | Batches of 100 |
Diet | Animal matter, feces, milk, sugar, rotting plants, and vegetables | Nectar, plants |
Horse Fly Threats and Control
In the hot summer, we commonly see an increase in horse fly activity. Horseflies are bloodsucking insects, and they can inflict a very painful bite and draw large amounts of blood. These big flies can become a significant pest of pastured livestock, primarily cattle, and horses.
These flies are attracted to such things as movement, shiny surfaces, carbon dioxide, and warmth. During the outside activity, wearing light-colored clothing and insect repellant is a great way to prevent horse fly bites. If they are entering structures, the best method of horse fly control is exclusion and permethrin-based sprays.