We seem to have a lot of horse flies around our home at the moment.
I don't think I've ever seen them so big.
Apparently it is the female of this species that bites . . . . . .
. . . . . and to say those bites are painful and vicious is an understatement.
Horse flies have mandibles shaped with serrated edges.
They use their mandibles to rip into the skin and then feed on the blood that wells up in the wound.
Apparently they love being near water so our pool is a big draw for them.
That's probably more than you wanted to know about them I'm sure.
Hopefully wherever you reside is horse fly free.
Yes, much more than I wanted to know :) But amazing macro images - you have captured such detail. I am happy to say that I haven't run across any horse flies in my part of Ohio - at least not yet.
ReplyDeleteI sat outside last weekend and got bit by a couple of flies, but not horse flies. Have you seen that trick of putting some water and pennies into a ziploc back, then hanging it in a doorway or in your yard? It is supposed to keep the flies away. Something about the sunlight reflecting off of the water and pennies makes it look like eyes and the flies are afraid to come near the area or something like that. You should try it.
ReplyDeleteThese photos are amazing! We get them sometimes, but so far this year just black flies... Not so big but they still love to bite!
ReplyDeleteFortunately we seem to be free of these pests - thankfully!!! Great photos.
ReplyDeleteOuch! These are great shots, but they make me cringe a bit :)
ReplyDeleteI cringe every time I see one fly by. Boy do they hurt.
DeleteYikes!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I have never been bitten.
We used to go to a favourite beach when I was young, and there were horse flies, but luckily they didn't like me.
I've heard their bites are painful!