{"id":475,"date":"2022-01-10T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehorsesguide.com\/?p=475"},"modified":"2021-12-26T21:37:28","modified_gmt":"2021-12-26T21:37:28","slug":"where-do-horse-flies-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehorsesguide.com\/where-do-horse-flies-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Do Horse Flies Live?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Everywhere there are horses, there are also flies that feed on their blood. But where do horseflies live? What do horseflies look like? What are other insects closely related to the horsefly? What is the difference between a horse fly and a deer fly? What do horse flies eat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will explore all these questions and more. But, first, let’s look at the horsefly’s features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Features of the Horse Fly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A horsefly is a giant insect with solid and sharp mouthparts accompanied by piercing and sucking digestive organs. They have hair all over their bodies to help them retain water while flying in hot, dry conditions where other insects cannot survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their hind legs are long and slender, which allows them to rest on vegetation that will enable them to fly away quickly. Their eyes are large, and their compound eyes that point in different directions help them view everything around them while flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A horsefly’s wings are large, with many veins. They have six legs, and the females have sharp, stabbing mouthparts. Their legs are long and specialized in hanging on vegetation while waiting for their victims with their front legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"horse<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Where do Horse Flies Live?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Horseflies thrive in wet places and hot weather. You will frequently spot them on pasturelands beside streams during the summer. They like weedy areas and long grass that may trap moisture and replicate the humid pasture environment they enjoy so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Difference Between a Horse Fly and a Deer Fly?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although these insects are dipterans that prey on other animals for their nutrient-rich blood, they do not look alike. Here are several ways to tell them apart:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Horseflies are much bigger than deer flies, at around 20mm (2cm) long. They are also much fatter in the abdomen. Deer flies are more petite (about 15mm equivalent to 1.5cm) and more slender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Color<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Horseflies have bright wings, and the rest of their bodies are dark. Deer flies have dark wings, and the rest of their bodies are yellow or greenish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mouthparts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Horsefly mouthparts include a long, saw-like apparatus used to slice open skin for access to blood. Deer fly’s mouthparts appear short and stout because theirs is designed to pierce skin instead of cutting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antennae<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A deer fly has a much longer and more slender antenna than a horsefly. A horsefly’s antennae may be slightly thinner, but not by much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"deer<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Horse Fly Diet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Horseflies are blood-feeding insects, but they do not just feed on any animals. Instead, they prefer mammals and birds over reptiles and amphibians because their body heat helps the horsefly to reproduce faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female horseflies need to feed on blood before they can lay their eggs. Male horseflies do not suck blood. They can survive using other food sources like nectar and sap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do Horse Flies Identify Their Next “Victim”?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Horseflies can sense the carbon dioxide given off by animals from a distance of up to 100m (109 yards). They can also detect moist, warm areas that animals that give off more of this gas often inhabit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a horsefly identifies an area where a possible victim is hiding, it will hover around and check for more signs. Then, they use their sense of smell to determine which direction the animal is in, so they can come at it from below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horseflies also use visual cues to tell which animals are easier to attack. For example, a slower-moving animal with dark skin would make a good target. They may follow a moving animal for a short while before choosing their prey, waiting until the animal slows down or stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horse Fly Bites Unpacked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Horseflies are not picky about where they bite their victims, so they will likely attack any area the animal has exposed skin. Their bites are painful and itchy, so most animals will try to smack them away or flee from the site. However, if an animal is slow-moving or injured, it may be hard for them to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Female horse flies are most likely to bite humans on the arms, hands, legs, and ankles since these parts of the body are easier targets. They often drink until their stomachs are full before taking off, but they will happily return to drain more blood if given a chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of Horse Fly Bites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like other biting insects, horsefly bites can cause infection and disease. They may also irritate the skin and introduce foreign substances to an open wound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once a horsefly bites, it injects anticoagulant compounds into its hosts, causing allergic reactions. This leads to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n