Scientific Name Tabanus sp. (Diptera: Tabanidae)

 

Size: 10 - 25 mm

 

Colour Yellow-white to pinkish thick, tough skin

 

Description

Adult flies are brownish, hairy, robust and superficially resembling honey bees except for having only one pair of wings. Wings of the horse bot fly have faint smoky spots on the wings. Fully-grown larvae (maggots) are ½ to 2/3 inch long and have yellow-white to pinkish thick, tough skin. They are blunt at one (the back) end, and taper to the other (front) end which bears a pair of strong, hook-like mouthparts. Each body segment is ringed with strong spines.

 

Horse flies feed by sucking blood and cause a painful and severe bite. These flying pests are closely related to Deer flies. Often confused with Deer flies, Horse flies are a little larger in size. The wings of this fly have dark markings and their body is brown or black in color.