Horsefly (Tabanidae): types, names, what it looks like, role in the wild, size, photo, harm and consequences of a bite

Along with mosquitoes, horseflies are recognized as one of the most ancient insects. According to the species classification, they are assigned to the family of blood-sucking insects, which indicates the feeding nature of these representatives.

The specific name “horsefly” does not mean that the fly has poor vision. In fact, this term reflects what the horsefly does when bitten (freezes). Photos of horseflies presented in entomological collections will allow you to get acquainted with the structural features of representatives of the family.

Description and habitat

Horseflies are flying arthropod insects from the Diptera family. It is most active in wetlands and agricultural areas where livestock are raised.

Externally, the horsefly looks like a large fly about 2 cm in size; natural shades predominate in color - gray, brown. Looking at the appearance of the gadfly, you can see eyes that change color, impressive sharp mouthparts and a fleshy proboscis.

The horsefly has a slightly elongated body with a thin chitinous covering. Behind the transparent wings there are halteres, thanks to which the insect can balance during flight and make characteristic sounds.

General characteristics of the horsefly insect

The horsefly insect has a fairly large, developed body. The thoracic region and massive wings with a large span are clearly defined. A detailed description of what a horsefly looks like:

1. The size of an adult reaches 2-3 cm (depending on the subspecies and habitat).
2. Wide but slightly flattened abdomen, which consists of 7 segments. All segments are connected to each other by a thin membrane with excellent elasticity. It is due to the stretching of the membranous tissue that flies can absorb large amounts of blood.
3. The characteristic difference between a female and a male is the shape of the abdomen. In males, the abdomen has a pointed end; in females, it is characterized by a rounded shape.
4. Behind the chest there is a shield - a plate of chitinous tissue that performs a protective function.
5. All horse flies have wide wings, which can be transparent, have colored spots on the surface or have a mesh pattern.
6. Under the wings there are halteres, which are rudimentary formations. In the process of species development, horseflies lost their second pair of wings, but found use for the remaining processes. Today, the role of the rudiment in the navigation of horse flies during flight has been proven.
7. All three pairs of limbs are covered with a continuous layer of hard hairs. At the ends of the legs there are three pairs of suckers and two claws, which allow flies to stay on vertical surfaces.
8. The structure of the eyes deserves special attention. The horsefly's visual organ consists of many facets, visual cones. Thanks to the excellent innervation of the eyes, horseflies perfectly see the contours of objects and the slightest movements. Some individuals have additional eyes of a simple structure.
9. The olfactory organ is represented by thin antennae located between the eyes.

The oral apparatus has the form of 6 plates, which are arranged in a fan. Females have paired jaws; with macro photography, you can see their resemblance to sharp sabers. There are tentacles on the lower jaws.

Some members of the family acquired additional devices: suction cups on the nose, stilettos for cutting rough skin, porous tissue resembling a sponge (allows it to absorb flower nectar).

All structural features of the horsefly are aimed at maximizing the adaptation of the insect to any environmental conditions.

Lifestyle and nutrition

The horsefly spends most of its life in flight. Departure usually begins in the second half of May.

Horsefly activity, which occurs mainly during daylight hours, increases sharply before rain, but during rain the insects do not fly.

The exception is the cloak, from which it gets its name. They do not like horse flies and windy weather. The flight range of the gadfly is 2–4 km. The insect can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Horseflies feed on the blood of mammals. However, this only applies to fertilized females, since they need blood to reproduce. As for unfertilized females, they are quite satisfied with the vegetable menu, just like male gadflies.

What do horse flies eat?

Only females are blood-sucking horseflies, while vegetarian males feed exclusively on nectar, sweet secretions of aphids and scale insects, and plant sap. The female horsefly switches to a “blood diet” only when it is time to lay eggs, and is capable of taking up to 200 mg of blood in one meal. An unfertilized female horsefly easily tolerates the lack of protein food and is content with a plant menu.

Photo credit: Hans, CC0 Public Domain

Life cycle and reproduction

The life cycle of a gadfly includes four main stages:

• egg (the female lays from 400 to 1000 pieces);
• larva;
• chrysalis;
• imago (adult).

The total duration of complete transformation is 4 years.

The method of breeding horseflies is similar to that for other dipterans. After mating, the female produces a brood, laying eggs on leaves and stems of plants, in water and moist soil.

The horsefly larva hatches in 3–8 days. This phase lasts about a year. In spring, the larvae begin to pupate, having first moved to a drier place.

This process may take several weeks. As a result, an adult gadfly is born.

What harm can the soldier bug cause?

The appearance of soldier bugs can be a big nuisance for a summer resident. Plants and trees that these insects feed on begin to shed their leaves, wither and, as a result, dry out. Fruits spoiled by the bug are unsuitable for food.

Since the wingless red bug reproduces very quickly, the appearance of a couple of individuals will already be a reason to raise the alarm. Within a matter of weeks, they can infect all the plants in the area. And this will lead to almost complete loss of the harvest.

The larvae cause particular harm. Hatching from the eggs, they begin to actively feed on the plant in which they have settled. Vineyard owners suffer more from the invasion of these insects, since the beetle eats both stems and fruits of these plants.

The red soldier bug is not dangerous to humans. Therefore, if an insect is found in the house, there is no reason to be afraid of it. Since it will emit a characteristic odor when crushed, it would be wiser to simply release it outside. Or use a broom and dustpan and flush the pests down the toilet.

Varieties

Currently, more than 4,000 species of horseflies are known. Often the name of an insect speaks about the characteristics and lifestyle of the insect:

• bullfly (one of the largest dipterans),
• deer horsefly
• gray horsefly
• ordinary,
• with golden eyes,
• golden-eyed forest, etc.

Habitat of the insect horsefly

Horseflies are widespread everywhere, excluding the territory of Antarctica, Greenland and some islands of the Arctic Ocean.

They prefer to settle in places with very high humidity, which corresponds to the metabolic characteristics of insects. You can meet horseflies near swamps, ponds, forests, and pastures.

Differences between horseflies and gadflies

The differences between the horsefly and the gadfly are manifested both externally and in the lifestyle of the insects. The horsefly has a muted color, and the gadfly is brighter. The horsefly is smaller in size than the gadfly. He has four wings, and the gadfly has two.

The horsefly has a much larger habitat, since it needs living organisms to reproduce. On the other hand, the gadfly always strives to be closer to water, as it needs a stable, moist environment for spawning and raising offspring.

Insects also have different methods of reproduction. Horseflies lay their eggs in water, grass or moist soil. To reproduce, a female horsefly needs to implant its larvae into the body of an animal or human, which then actively parasitize it.

The importance of the horsefly insect for epidemiology

Like most blood-sucking insects, horseflies are subject to control by epidemiologists. Flies are carriers of a number of infectious diseases:

1. Anthrax. The development of this particularly dangerous infection is associated with the feeding habits and habitat of horse flies. Anthrax spores are widespread in livestock burials and in the soil of pastures.
2. Tularemia is a disease that is often fatal.
3. Q fever.
4. Loiasis is a helminthiasis transmitted primarily through blood.

Due to the special importance of horseflies in the transmission of a number of infections, today there is a continuous fight against the proliferation of insects (disinfestation) in fields, in low-lying water bodies, and in pastures.

Horsefly bite and its causes

While in nature, you can easily become the target of a gadfly bite. The insect senses sweat from a distance of several tens of meters.

When a female horsefly bites a person or animal through a bite in the skin, she injects a special substance that thins and prevents blood clotting. Gadfly bites are dangerous for two main reasons:

• This can cause an allergic reaction to the insect substance entering the bloodstream. In some cases, allergy sufferers can also die after being bitten;
• A gadfly bite can cause an infection; in this case, treatment is much more difficult.

Interesting facts about horseflies

• Horseflies are a favorite food of some reptiles, waterfowl and fish. It is no coincidence that experienced fishermen often and successfully use horseflies as tasty bait when catching pike and other predatory fish.
• Scientists are inclined to believe that horseflies do not perceive and are even afraid of objects with striped colors. Perhaps this is why zebras practically do not suffer from horsefly attacks.
• In one “blood meal,” a female horsefly can drink the same amount of blood as 70 mosquitoes drink at the same time.

Photo credit: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0

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First aid for a horsefly bite

First aid for a horsefly bite should begin with washing the affected area with cold soapy water and treating with an antiseptic to prevent secondary infection from entering the wound.

To reduce pain and swelling, it is recommended to apply an ice pack to the bite site. Baking soda based lotion is good for itching and redness. Pharmacy creams against insect bites, for example “Rescuer”, are also a good help in these cases.

If the victim of a gadfly bite has a tendency to allergies, it is necessary to urgently take an antihistamine.

Attention! If the bite lands directly on a mole, you should immediately consult a doctor, as such damage can cause the mole to degenerate into a malignant form.

In any case, it is necessary to immediately begin providing first aid for a horsefly bite, so as not to provoke complications that require serious medical intervention.

Remedies against horse flies

To avoid horsefly bites and protect yourself from these blood-sucking insects, try to follow these tips:

• when going out into nature, you should not stop where livestock is grazing nearby;
• wear clothes in light colors and, if possible, with long sleeves and pants;
• horseflies are repelled by the smell of some plants: a sprig of tansy, mint or wormwood thrown into the fire will save you for a long time from the proximity of annoying bloodsuckers;
• use (with caution) repellents and aerosols against horseflies, applying them to clothing or skin according to the instructions;
• if insects attack you in your summer cottage, use horsefly traps;
• Apply Golden Star balm or any essential oil based on clove or eucalyptus onto the skin.

Photo by: Jan Richtr

Treatment of a horsefly bite

Since the likelihood of insect attacks in the wild is high, it is necessary to clearly understand how to treat a horsefly bite.

First of all, during treatment, it is necessary to treat the affected area of ​​the body by washing it with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, miramistin, chlorhexidine, or at least clean water. Then you need to carefully squeeze the liquid out of the wound. This will prevent insect saliva from spreading under the skin. It is best to seal the bite site with a band-aid.

To prevent allergies, you should take antihistamines (Cetrin, Loratadine). You can take painkillers and antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen).

Among the folk remedies for relieving swelling, rubbing, oddly enough, with Corvalol, soda solution, dandelion juice, grated potato mass, as well as regular ice and iodine are suitable. Salt lotions help a lot.

Common types

Although the species diversity of the subfamily is great, in temperate climates the following types of horseflies are more common:

1. The bullfly lives throughout Europe. It is distinguished by its large size, because it reaches a length of 2.5 cm. When flying, it makes a loud buzzing sound. The chest of the bullfly is decorated with dark stripes and yellow hair, while the body of the insect is dirty brown. Representatives of this species are found even at an altitude of 2 km above sea level.
2. The horsefly lacewing, which is also called the moth, does not exceed 1.5 cm in length. It differs from its relatives in its bright, almost contrasting color: a black chest combined with yellow patches on the abdomen. But the real wealth of the insect is its attractive eyes, painted in shades of emerald and gold, shimmering spectacularly in the rays of the sun.
3. The rainfly looks more ordinary: its faded color cannot be called elegant. But the insect has a significant difference from its fellows: its activity increases in cloudy weather, while other horseflies prefer sunny days.

These are the three most popular types of horseflies that can be encountered in the CIS countries.

Consequences of a bite

The consequences of a gadfly bite are swelling, allergies. Pregnant women may experience fetal death, premature birth, or miscarriage.

Infection of a wound can contribute to the development of an inflammatory and infectious process, including blood poisoning (sepsis) and bacteremia (high levels of bacteria in the body).

Tetanus and gas gangrene may develop.

Allergic reaction

A person who is bitten by an allergy may experience an attack of suffocation or anaphylactic shock. Maybe even coma, and then death.

Specifics of life activity

The danger comes from female horse flies that feed on the blood of animals. Moreover, they attack victims not only for the purpose of feeding, but also to obtain blood necessary during the development of eggs.

With the help of its proboscis, the horsefly cuts the skin of the victim, resulting in the formation of a wound, which will be the source of blood for the insect. One bite can result in blood loss of up to 200 mg. But male insects feed on flower nectar, secretions of worms and aphids.

After consuming blood, the female quickly begins to digest it. In the intestines of a fertilized female, traces of digested food can be found 2 days after the bite. After 3-4 days, she is ready to lay eggs. The masonry size can reach 100-1000 pieces. at a time. In this case, the nutrition cycle reaches up to 6 times per season. This means that the average number of eggs laid can be about 3,500.

The ideal place for insect larvae is moist soil or water. Therefore, they live near bodies of water and are most active in hot weather in summer.

Features of life

It is not advisable to look for differences between the gadfly, horsefly and spider.

The photo of the gadfly and horsefly clearly shows that the latter are larger flies, which are equipped with two pairs of wings and large bright eyes that occupy most of the body. Gadflies are significantly smaller in size and have less colorful colors. just one pair of wings and more yellow on the body. A photo of the difference between a blind and a gadfly clearly demonstrates the external differences.

Also, gadflies and horseflies feed in different ways. Male horseflies lead a herbivorous lifestyle and prefer to feed only on plant juices and nectar. Females do the same thing. Once the female is ready to mate, she becomes very aggressive and switches to a predatory lifestyle.

Adult gadflies generally feed on it. This explains their short life cycle. Nutrition and accumulation of nutrients occurs at the larval stage. When the gadfly develops wings and the ability to mate, they begin to actively lay eggs and mate.

Where does horsefly live?

Photo: Insect horsefly

Horseflies typically live in forests

. The species typically feeds during the day and is most visible on calm, hot, sunny days. They are commonly found in both suburban and rural areas near bodies of water that serve as breeding grounds and where mammalian hosts are most abundant.

The larvae develop in the gastrointestinal tract of host animals during winter. At the end of winter and at the beginning of the spring months, adult larvae are found in the host's feces. From there they burrow into the soil and form a puparia from the skin of their last instar (instar) larvae. They develop into adult flies inside the puparium and emerge after 3-10 weeks.

Adults are active from mid-summer to autumn. Adult females lay eggs on the hair of horses, especially on the hair on the front legs, but also on the belly, shoulders and hind legs. The eggs hatch in 10–140 days with the proper stimulus (moisture, heat, and friction) caused by the horse licking or biting egg-infected hair.

The tiny first instar (instar) larvae enter the mouth and burrow into the tongue for approximately 28 days before they molt and move into the stomach where they remain for 9-10 months, developing into the third instar after approximately 5 weeks. One generation of horse flies grows up per year.

Why was the horsefly called that?

Horse flies got their name because of their myopia: at long distances they perceive only the movement of objects and often chase moving cars, trains and other inedible objects. But most often they circle around horses, cows and other large animals. They also bite people. A horsefly bite is very painful! But only females drink blood, males feed on flower nectar. Females require a lot of nutrients to produce eggs, and at one time they drink as much blood as 70 mosquitoes!

Also, according to another version, horseflies were named so due to the lacewing . The lacewing is a motley-colored small horsefly with golden-green eyes and a nasty habit of biting large herbivores directly on the eyelids. It is not surprising that after insect bites, animals' eyes become very swollen and they almost lose their vision. After some time, the swelling, however, subsides, but the pain and severe itching remain for a long time. The lacewing often attacks people.

Is horsefly harmful to humans?

Horseflies often bite people. The insect's saliva causes a painful reaction on the skin. Some suffer from an allergy to the bites of blood-sucking flies, and then the affected area swells greatly. Together with saliva, toxic substances that cause pain and swelling, and anticoagulants that prevent blood clotting enter the wound. Horseflies pose a particular danger as carriers of infectious diseases. Therefore, if you have a fever after the attack, you should seek medical help.

Knowing what a horsefly looks like, you can distinguish it from other insects. It is difficult to avoid meeting him on summer days with clear weather. During the period when female flies are bearing offspring, they are extremely aggressive and often attack people. To repel horseflies, insecticides are used in the form of a spray or aerosol, and special traps are built in the areas.

Horseflies are large flies (up to 2-3 centimeters). Everyone knows from their own experience how painful they bite and how annoying they are on a hot summer day. Livestock, wild animals - elk, deer, even rodents, birds and large lizards - all suffer from horsefly bites. Only females suck blood (and at one time as many as seventy mosquitoes!). Male horseflies feed on the nectar of flowers, the sweet sap of trees, and the “honeydew” exuded in abundance by aphids.

After a few days, the female, pumped with blood, lays eggs. Later it attacks the unfortunate animals again, followed by a new egg laying - up to five times.

Horseflies usually attach their eggs to plants near and above water. The larvae live in water or in damp places on land. They do not have legs; they are replaced by thickenings and tubercles on the body. Resting against them, the larvae crawl quite quickly. Predators. They attack insect larvae, crustaceans, and earthworms.

The green yellow-legged fly, the dermatobia botfly, lives in Central and South America. Local residents call its larvae mosquito worms. Where there are a lot of mosquitoes, these flies hover. How do they manage to do the following: quickly approach in flight and immediately, lightly touching the mosquito with their belly, stick their eggs?

After about six days, larvae will develop in them, which do not crawl out of the shells of the eggs until the mosquito, in order to drink blood, sits on some warm-blooded animal. As soon as this happens, the gadfly larvae immediately migrate to the skin of the animal (or person). They penetrate into it and grow: a very painful nodule up to two or more centimeters in diameter forms under the skin. There is a fistula in the nodule, through which the air necessary for breathing enters the larva. Through the same fistula, the mature larva crawls out and falls to the ground, where it pupates, then turning into an adult gadfly, which, if it is a female, immediately goes in search of first males of its own species, and then mosquitoes.

The female gastric hook botfly lays eggs on the skin of donkeys and horses, precisely on the places that these equids most often scratch with their teeth, for example, on the inside of the front legs. Once in the horse's mouth, the botfly larvae live and develop in the tissues of its tongue for about a month. Then they penetrate into the mucous membrane of the mouth, along it they reach the pharynx and stomach, in which tens and hundreds of larvae often live. Ready to pupate, they come out along with the droppings and complete their metamorphosis on the ground.

Sheep and horse subcutaneous gadflies squirt larvae into the eyes, not only of animals, but also of humans. Then the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed, and the person gets conjunctivitis.

A more dangerous disease is caused by the larvae of subcutaneous gadflies by penetrating into the head and eyes. To remove them from there, surgery is necessary.

Why are horseflies dangerous?

Horseflies are blood-sucking insects, which are dangerous for humans and farm animals. An attack on the latter has a negative impact on the growth of young animals, cow milk yield and livestock productivity.

For people under unfavorable circumstances, a bite is associated not only with severe pain, but also with the transmission of diseases: tularemia, anthrax, parafilariasis. It has been scientifically proven that horseflies are involved in the transmission of helminthic, infectious and protozoal microorganisms.

The instinct to search for prey awakens in females only after fertilization. There are several stages of the process:

• lying in wait for a target to attack;
• approaching the victim, assessing its size, color and mobility;
• flight and pursuit of the future provider;
• landing on the victim’s body, taking into account thermal, tactile and chemical sensations;
• determination of the area with the densest network of blood vessels through several test punctures, the process of blood sucking.

Horseflies are highly mobile and travel impressive distances with the help of prey. This increases the role of active bloodsuckers in the transmission of various pathogenic agents.

The body of blood-sucking insects is the habitat of some symbiont bacteria. At the present stage of development, science has not been able to clarify the role of horseflies in their spread. It is known that among bacteria there are opportunistic specimens with circulating ability that are dangerous to animals and humans.

Preventive measures

As they say, prevention is the best cure. Therefore, when going for a walk or a trip to nature, you need to take measures to protect yourself and your loved ones.

When going outdoors, you need to pay special attention to the choice of clothing. It should not be of bright colors, so as not to attract undue attention from horse flies.

It is better to give preference to things that cover the body as much as possible, made of dense, but breathable fabrics, of a khaki color. It is not recommended to use perfume in such cases, as it attracts insects.

Various repellents containing 20% ​​diethyltoluolamide in the form of creams, lotions, and sprays will help repel horse flies. You can also use traditional methods:

1. If you are going to live in a rural area, then you need to collect wormwood and tansy in small bunches. By hanging them outside on the walls of the house at the entrance and windows, a person will scare away horse flies that try to approach the home.
2. Bouquets of tansy and chamomile in the house would be useful. You can spread tansy stems around the tent if you have to spend the night outdoors. This plant perfectly repels blood-sucking insects.
3. When making a fire, it is recommended to burn several chamomile flowers and stems in it. Then evening gatherings by the fire will be safer. You can also use valerian, juniper pine, wheatgrass root, and cinnamon.
4. If you treat the body with a solution of carbolic acid, horseflies will never attack.
5. To repel blood-sucking insects, an effective remedy is to lubricate exposed areas of the body with fish oil.
6. You can sprinkle chamomile tincture on your body and clothes. The most effective in this regard are the Persian and Caucasian species of this plant.
7. If there are puddles nearby, you can pour a little gasoline or diesel fuel into them. Flies that want to get drunk on the fly, having landed in such traps, will no longer fly up.

Sometimes it happens that you have to stop for the night in places where there are concentrations of horse flies, mosquitoes and mosquitoes. Then it is better to follow the safety rules:

• you need to set up your camp on a hill, away from the swamps;
• sleep under a mosquito net, and if possible, smear your face with mud (silt), especially before going to bed;
• It’s better to tuck your trousers into your socks or shoes;
• put on all your clothes, especially at night;
• be sure to use a protective mask and gloves;
• Use repellents applied to clothing; they retain their effect for weeks.

There are many recipes on how to avoid insect attacks, but the main thing is to use them in time and correctly.

The horsefly is a blood-sucking insect that causes significant damage in agriculture. Moreover, horseflies are also very dangerous for humans, especially for children and pregnant women. Horseflies attack humans, are very aggressive insects and can infect humans with infectious diseases, since horseflies love to eat the corpses of animals that may have died due to infection.

Why is horsefly called horsefly? Because for some reason this insect wants to bite in the eye, however, a person, like an animal, manages to close the eye before the bite, as a result, the eye remains undamaged, but the person walks for a long time with swollen eyelids, and cannot see with the damaged eye because of for swelling of the eyelids. That is, he goes blind. That is why this insect got its name - horsefly.

Tabanidae Horseflies are found in various climatic and landscape zones, everywhere. In total, there are over 3,500 species in the horsefly family around the globe.