Biting-fly

Guides

Atylotus hyalicosta
Atylotus hyalicosta is a species of horse fly (family Tabanidae) described by Teskey in 1984. It belongs to the genus Atylotus, a group of biting flies known for their robust build and large eyes. Like other members of Tabanidae, females of this species likely require blood meals for egg development, while males feed on nectar and other sugar sources. The species is poorly documented in public literature, with only one observation recorded on iNaturalist.
horse-fly biting-fly Diptera Tabanidae poorly-known-species Holarctic
Chrysops aberrans
Wandering Deer Fly
Chrysops aberrans is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. It is commonly known as the Wandering Deer Fly. The species was described by Philip in 1941. As a member of the genus Chrysops, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their painful bites to mammals, including humans.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae Chrysops United-States Vermont Diptera Brachycera 1941-description Philip
Chrysops ater
Dark Deer Fly
Chrysops ater is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the Dark Deer Fly. It is distributed across northern North America including Canada and the United States. Like other deer flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar. The species is one of approximately 250 described species in the genus Chrysops.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America
Chrysops atlanticus
Atlantic Deer Fly
Chrysops atlanticus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. It is a biting fly known for its painful bites to humans and other mammals. The species has been successfully reared in laboratory conditions, with a complete life cycle of approximately 20-30 days at 25°C. Adults emerge in morning hours.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly medical-entomology vector-biology
Chrysops beameri
deer fly
Chrysops beameri is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Brennan in 1935. The species belongs to the genus Chrysops, a diverse group of biting flies commonly known as deer flies or yellow flies. Like other members of this genus, it is presumed to be a blood-feeding fly with females requiring blood meals for egg development. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly Diptera
Chrysops brunneus
Brownish Deer Fly
Chrysops brunneus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the Brownish Deer Fly. It is found in the United States. The species was described by Hine in 1903. Deer flies in the genus Chrysops are known for their biting behavior and are considered pests of humans and livestock.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae United-States
Chrysops calvus
Bald Deer Fly
Chrysops calvus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the Bald Deer Fly. It was described by Pechuman and Teskey in 1967. The species belongs to the genus Chrysops, a group of biting flies known for their painful bites and distinctive patterned eyes. Deer flies are recognized as significant biting pests of humans and livestock.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae North-America pest
Chrysops celatus
deer fly
Chrysops celatus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Pechuman in 1949. It exhibits diel host-seeking activity patterns and has been recorded in northwest Florida and Vermont, USA. The species is currently considered a synonym of Chrysops atlanticus by some taxonomic authorities.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly North-America synonym blood-feeding diel-activity
Chrysops cincticornis
Ring-clawed Deer Fly
Chrysops cincticornis is a deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Walker in 1848. It is commonly known as the Ring-clawed Deer Fly. The species has been documented in Vermont and other parts of the United States, with 291 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Research on this species has focused on its oviposition behavior and fecundity, with laboratory studies showing females deposit eggs in gelatinous masses on mud substrates near water, averaging 156 eggs per female.
deer-fly Tabanidae Diptera medical-entomology oviposition fecundity ring-clawed-deer-fly Vermont United-States mud-substrate gelatinous-egg-mass Chrysopsinae Chrysopsini Walker-1848 iNaturalist laboratory-rearing egg-mass 156-eggs range-42-312 near-water mud-like-substrate egg-deposition reproduction behavioral-study medical-entomology-research insect-vectors biting-flies tabanid-flies horse-flies deer-flies Chrysops North-America New-England observation-records synonym-status-in-Catalogue-of-Life accepted-status-in-GBIF arthropod insect fly Brachycera Tabanomorpha Hexapoda Pterygota Animalia Arthropoda Insecta cincticornis Chrysops-cincticornis-Walker-1848 Chrysops-(Chrysops)-cincticornis deerfly horsefly tabanid biting-fly vector oviposition-behavior fecundity-study Journal-of-Medical-Entomology 1982 10.1093/jmedent/19.5.597 gelatinous-secretion mud water laboratory-conditions mean-fecundity egg-production reproductive-biology entomology insect-behavior insect-reproduction dipteran true-fly two-winged-fly nematoceran Cyclorrhapha Aschiza Schizophora Acalyptratae Calyptratae Oestroidea Muscoidea Hippoboscoidea Glossinidae Calliphoridae Sarcophagidae Muscidae Fanniidae Anthomyiidae Scathophagidae Oestridae Tachinidae Siphonaptera Phthiraptera Hemiptera Coleoptera Lepidoptera Hymenoptera Neuroptera Megaloptera Raphidioptera Trichoptera Strepsiptera Mecoptera Diplura Protura Collembola Zygentoma Archaeognatha Ephemeroptera Odonata Plecoptera Grylloblattodea Mantophasmatodea Phasmatodea Orthoptera Dermaptera Embioptera Zoraptera Isoptera Blattodea Mantodea Phyllodocida Notoptera Walker 1848 species taxon gelatinous habitat distribution GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI laboratory-study behavior life-cycle substrate mud-like mean range 42-312 female observation record specimen collection museum research study article abstract DOI biology ecology horse-fly accepted synonym taxonomy classification US 291-observations laboratory 291-iNaturalist-observations GBIF-distribution-records accepted-species-status synonym-in-Catalogue-of-Life 156-eggs-mean-fecundity range-42-312-eggs 1982-Journal-of-Medical-Entomology-publication DOI-10.1093/jmedent/19.5.597 entomology-research dipteran-biology
Chrysops clavicornis
deer fly
Chrysops clavicornis is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Brennan in 1935. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a diverse group of biting flies commonly known as deer flies or yellow flies. The species is characterized by clubbed antennae, as indicated by its specific epithet 'clavicornis' (from Latin clavus = club, cornu = horn). Like other members of the genus, it is likely a blood-feeding fly with females requiring blood meals for egg development.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly blood-feeding Brennan-1935 clubbed-antennae Chrysopsinae Chrysopsini Diptera Brachycera Tabanomorpha synonym rarely-observed
Chrysops cursim
deer fly
Chrysops cursim is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Whitney in 1879. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a diverse group of biting flies commonly known as deer flies or yellow flies. The species is recorded from the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a blood-feeding fly with females requiring vertebrate blood for egg development, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly Diptera
Chrysops dacne
Chrysops dacne is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1955. The species name is a playful reference, sounding like 'balls of fire' when pronounced. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it is likely a biting fly with aquatic or semi-aquatic larval stages, though specific details about this particular species remain poorly documented in available literature.
deer-fly biting-fly aquatic-larvae Tabanidae Chrysops Philip-1955 pun-name balls-of-fire
Chrysops dimmocki
deer fly
Chrysops dimmocki is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Hine in 1905. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a diverse group of biting flies known for their distinctive patterned eyes and painful bites. The species is documented from the United States, with specific records from Vermont. Like other deer flies, females require blood meals for egg development, while males feed on nectar.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae United-States Vermont
Chrysops discalis
deer fly
Chrysops discalis is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. It is known as a biting fly and has been implicated as a vector of tularemia, commonly referred to as "deerfly fever." The species was described by Williston in 1880 and occurs in North America.
Tabanidae deer-fly vector tularemia North-America biting-fly medical-entomology
Chrysops dissimilis
Chrysops dissimilis is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Brennan in 1935. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a diverse group of biting flies commonly known as deer flies or yellow flies. The species is recognized in major taxonomic databases including GBIF and Catalogue of Life, though detailed biological information remains limited. As with other Chrysops species, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar.
deer-fly horse-fly biting-fly Tabanidae Chrysops Diptera
Chrysops dixianus
deer fly
Chrysops dixianus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Pechuman in 1974. The species is known from the United States. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it belongs to the deer fly group within horse flies, characterized by their biting habits and aquatic larval development. The specific epithet 'dixianus' suggests a possible association with the southern United States (Dixie region), though this has not been explicitly documented in available sources.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly Diptera United-States
Chrysops excitans
Bothersome Deer Fly
Chrysops excitans is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the Bothersome Deer Fly. It is distributed across Canada and the United States, with records from Vermont and other regions. As a member of the genus Chrysops, it shares the characteristic blood-feeding behavior of female deer flies, though specific details for this species remain limited in available sources.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America
Chrysops facialis
Chrysops facialis is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Townsend in 1897. As a member of the genus Chrysops, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their painful bites and distinctive wing patterns. The species is currently accepted in taxonomic databases, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae
Chrysops frigidus
Frigid Deer Fly
Chrysops frigidus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the Frigid Deer Fly. It occurs in northern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other deer flies, females are blood-feeding while males feed on nectar. The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1875.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America
Chrysops fuliginosus
deer fly
Chrysops fuliginosus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Wiedemann in 1821. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a diverse group of biting flies commonly known as deer flies or yellow flies. The species is distributed across Canada and the United States.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America
Chrysops hinei
deer fly
Chrysops hinei is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Daecke in 1907. The species belongs to the genus Chrysops, a diverse group of biting flies commonly known as deer flies or yellow flies. As with other members of Tabanidae, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and other sugary substances. The species is part of the subfamily Chrysopsinae, characterized by patterned wings and diurnal activity patterns.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae blood-feeder North-America
Chrysops hirsuticallus
Chrysops hirsuticallus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1941. As a member of the genus Chrysops, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their distinctive patterned eyes and blood-feeding behavior by females. The species has been subject to scientific study regarding its reproductive biology and blood meal sources.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae North-America
Chrysops indus
deer fly
Chrysops indus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. It occurs in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and pollen. The species was described by Osten Sacken in 1875.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America Osten-Sacken-1875
Chrysops lateralis
deer fly
Chrysops lateralis is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a group of biting flies known for their painful bites to humans and other mammals. The species was described by Wiedemann in 1828. Deer flies in this genus are recognized as significant biting pests in North America.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly North-America pest
Chrysops macquarti
Macquart's Deer Fly
Chrysops macquarti is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. The species was described by Philip in 1961. Like other deer flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their painful bites to mammals, including humans. The specific epithet honors the French entomologist Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae Diptera North-America
Chrysops montanus
Mountain Deer Fly
Chrysops montanus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the Mountain Deer Fly. It is found in mountainous regions of North America including Canada and the United States. Like other deer flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar.
deer-fly biting-fly mountain North-America
Chrysops niger
Black Deer Fly
Chrysops niger, commonly known as the black deer fly, is a biting fly in the family Tabanidae. Adults are active from May to September and are associated with marshy habitats. The species is distinguished by its predominantly black body with white hairs and black-barred wings. Larvae develop in damp soil and feed on organic matter.
biting-fly deer-fly marsh-habitat pest Tabanidae
Chrysops noctifer
nocturnal deer fly
Chrysops noctifer is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1877. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their painful bites and distinctive patterned eyes. The species name 'noctifer' (meaning 'night-bearer') suggests possible crepuscular or nocturnal activity patterns, though specific behavioral documentation is limited. As with other deer flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly Diptera
Chrysops obsoletus
Chrysops obsoletus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Wiedemann in 1821. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a group of biting flies known for their painful bites to humans and other mammals. The species is part of the subfamily Chrysopsinae and tribe Chrysopsini. Limited specific information is available for this particular species beyond its taxonomic classification.
deer-fly biting-fly Tabanidae Chrysops
Chrysops pikei
Chrysops pikei is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to the genus Chrysops, a group of biting flies known for their distinctive eye patterns and painful bites. The species was described by Whitney in 1904. Like other deer flies, it is likely a blood-feeding pest of mammals, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America
Chrysops reicherti
deer fly
Chrysops reicherti is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Fairchild in 1937. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it is a blood-feeding fly known for its painful bites to mammals, including humans. The species occurs in the United States. Very little species-specific documentation exists in the available literature.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly United-States blood-feeder
Chrysops sequax
deer fly
Chrysops sequax is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae. It is known from the United States. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it is a blood-feeding fly with females requiring vertebrate blood for egg development. The species was described by Samuel Wendell Williston in 1887.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly United-States
Chrysops shermani
Sherman's Deer Fly
Chrysops shermani is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Hine in 1907. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it is a biting fly known for its painful bites to mammals, including humans. The species is found in the United States, with records from Vermont and other states.
biting-fly deer-fly vector nuisance-pest
Chrysops surdus
deer fly
Chrysops surdus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Osten Sacken in 1877. The species is distributed across northern North America, including Canada and the United States. Deer flies in the genus Chrysops are blood-feeding flies known for their painful bites and are recognized as significant biting pests in their range.
deer-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America Osten-Sacken-1877
Chrysops univittatus
One-striped Deer Fly
Chrysops univittatus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the One-striped Deer Fly. Females are most abundant in late July and early August in southwestern Quebec. The species is anautogenous, requiring a blood meal for egg development, and exhibits a single gonotrophic cycle.
deer-fly Tabanidae diptera biting-fly anautogeny single-gonotrophic-cycle
Chrysops upsilon
Chrysops upsilon is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1950. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it is a biting fly with females that require blood meals for egg development. The species is part of a diverse group of tabanids known for their painful bites and role as pests of humans and livestock. Specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available literature.
deer-fly Tabanidae Diptera biting-fly Philip-1950
Chrysops virgulatus
deer fly
Chrysops virgulatus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Bellardi in 1859. The species is currently accepted as valid, though the Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym, indicating taxonomic uncertainty or ongoing revision. Deer flies in the genus Chrysops are known for their biting behavior and are typically found in moist, vegetated habitats near water sources. As with other members of Tabanidae, females require blood meals for egg development.
deer-fly Tabanidae Diptera biting-fly
Chrysops vittatus
deer fly
Chrysops vittatus is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Wiedemann in 1821. Like other members of the genus Chrysops, it is a biting fly known for its blood-feeding behavior. The species has been documented in laboratory life history studies alongside congeners C. atlanticus and C. univittatus. Specific field data on this species remains limited in the available sources.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly Diptera blood-feeding
Diachlorus ferrugatus
Yellow Fly, Yellow Fly of the Dismal Swamp, Doctor Fly
Diachlorus ferrugatus is a biting horse fly native to North and Central America, ranging from the southeastern United States to Costa Rica. It is notorious for its aggressive biting behavior toward humans and is considered one of the most aggressive tabanid species in Florida. Females require blood meals for egg development and are active during daylight hours, with peak activity at sunset. The species is associated with aquatic habitats and nearby vegetation.
biting-fly horse-fly medical-entomology pest-species vector aggressive-biter
Esenbeckia
horse-fly
Esenbeckia is a genus of horse-flies (family Tabanidae) established by Rondani in 1863. Members are characterized by large, often vividly colored compound eyes and robust body form typical of tabanid flies. The genus is distinct from the plant genus of the same name (family Rutaceae), which was described earlier by Kunth. Species within Esenbeckia are found in the Americas and are diurnal, fast-flying insects.
Diptera Tabanidae horse-fly biting-fly flower-visitor New-World
Hamatabanus exilipalpis
Hamatabanus exilipalpis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to the genus Hamatabanus, a group of biting flies distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with only three observation records currently available on iNaturalist. Like other tabanids, adults are likely to be diurnal and females may require blood meals for egg development, though specific biological details remain unverified.
Tabanidae horse-fly Neotropical poorly-known biting-fly
Hybomitra affinis
moose-fly
A horse fly species in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the moose-fly. Females bite while males do not. It is among the most abundant and widely distributed Tabanidae species in Canada, occurring in woodland habitats where it serves as an important pest of humans and other mammals.
horse-fly Tabanidae moose-fly biting-fly woodland pest Naskapi Indigenous-knowledge Canada North-America
Hybomitra aurilimbus
Hybomitra aurilimbus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The genus Hybomitra includes species known for exceptionally fast flight speeds. Hybomitra aurilimbus has been documented in North America. Adult females are blood-feeders, while males feed on nectar.
horse-fly Tabanidae biting-fly
Hybomitra melanorhina
horse fly
Hybomitra melanorhina is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Bigot in 1892. It belongs to a genus of large, robust biting flies known for their rapid flight. Like other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and pollen. The species has been documented in northern North America.
Tabanidae horse-fly North-America biting-fly Diptera
Hybomitra microcephala
horse fly
Hybomitra microcephala is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It occurs in northern North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Hybomitra, it belongs to a group of large, biting flies commonly known as deer flies or horse flies, recognized for their robust bodies and prominent compound eyes.
horse-fly Tabanidae biting-fly North-America Diptera
Hybomitra minuscula
Hybomitra minuscula is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, originally described as Tabanus minusculus by Hine in 1907. It belongs to the genus Hybomitra, a diverse group of biting flies distributed primarily in the Holarctic region. Like other tabanids, adults are likely to be blood-feeding, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded in North America.
Tabanidae Diptera biting-fly horse-fly North-America poorly-known
Hybomitra opaca
Hybomitra opaca is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Coquillett in 1904. Like other members of its genus, it belongs to a group of robust, fast-flying flies known for their biting behavior. The species is classified within the tribe Tabanini and subfamily Tabaninae. Specific details about its biology, distribution, and ecology remain poorly documented in available sources.
Diptera Tabanidae horse-fly biting-fly Hybomitra Coquillett-1904
Hybomitra rupestris
horse fly
Hybomitra rupestris is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is distributed across northern North America, including Canada and the United States. Like other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar. The species is relatively poorly documented in scientific literature.
Tabanidae horse-fly Diptera North-America biting-fly
Hybomitra sodalis
White-arrowed Horse Fly
Hybomitra sodalis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the White-arrowed Horse Fly. It belongs to a genus of large, fast-flying tabanid flies. The species was described by Williston in 1887. Like other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and pollen. The genus Hybomitra includes some of the fastest flying insects known.
horse-fly Tabanidae Diptera North-America fast-flight biting-fly
Poeciloderas quadripunctatus
Poeciloderas quadripunctatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The species is distributed from Mexico to Argentina, with numerous records across Brazil. Like other tabanids, it belongs to a family of biting flies known for their blood-feeding behavior.
horse-fly tabanid Neotropical biting-fly Diptera
Silvius sayi
Silvius sayi is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Brennan in 1935. It belongs to the subfamily Chrysopsinae, which includes the deer flies and horse flies. The species is placed in the genus Silvius, a group of biting flies known for their blood-feeding habits. Information about this specific species is limited in available sources.
Tabanidae deer-fly biting-fly Diptera Chrysopsinae
Tabanini
horse flies, deer flies
Tabanini is a tribe of horse and deer flies within the family Tabanidae, containing at least 220 described species. Members are robust, medium to large flies with prominent eyes and biting mouthparts. The tribe includes economically significant genera such as Tabanus and Hybomitra, many of which are biting pests of mammals including humans and livestock.
biting-fly livestock-pest vector blood-feeding aquatic-larvae
Tabanus americanus
American Horse Fly
Tabanus americanus, the American horse fly, is a large horse fly species in the family Tabanidae. It is notable as potentially the world's largest horse fly, with body lengths reaching up to 30 mm. The species occurs in Canada and the United States, where adults are active in open pasture areas near livestock and water sources. Females require blood meals for egg development and are significant biting pests of cattle and other large mammals.
horse-fly tabanid livestock-pest biting-fly North-America
Tabanus atratus
Black Horse Fly
Tabanus atratus, commonly known as the black horse fly, is a large, all-black species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is one of the largest horse flies in North America, with body lengths ranging from 20–25 mm. Females are blood-feeders with scissor-like mouthparts used to cut skin and lap blood, while males have reduced mouthparts and do not feed on blood. The species is recognizable by its uniform black coloration and distinctively hooked antennae. Females lay eggs in large masses of 100–1000 eggs near water's edge, with each female capable of producing three to four egg masses.
horse-fly biting-fly pest hematophagy aquatic North-America
Tabanus catenatus
Chained Horse Fly
Tabanus catenatus is a large horse fly species in the family Tabanidae, measuring 19–25 mm in body length. It is commonly known as the Chained Horse Fly and occurs in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Like other horse flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their blood-feeding behavior, with females requiring blood meals for egg development.
Tabanidae horse-fly biting-fly eastern-North-America hematophagy
Tabanus equalis
horse fly
Tabanus equalis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Tabanus, which contains numerous biting fly species commonly known as horse flies or deer flies. The species was described by Hine in 1923. As with other horse flies, adults are likely to be robust, medium to large-sized flies with large eyes and piercing-sucking mouthparts adapted for blood-feeding.
horse-fly biting-fly Diptera Tabanidae North-America
Tabanus fairchildi
Fairchild's horse fly
Tabanus fairchildi, known as Fairchild's horse fly, is a species of biting fly in the family Tabanidae. The species was described by Stone in 1938. Like other horse flies, adults are likely to be robust, medium to large-sized flies with large compound eyes and biting mouthparts adapted for blood-feeding. The species is recorded from Canada and the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
horse-fly biting-fly North-America Tabanidae Diptera blood-feeding
Tabanus fuscopunctatus
Tabanus fuscopunctatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Macquart in 1850. It is recorded from the United States, though specific details regarding its biology, habitat preferences, and ecological role remain poorly documented in available literature. The species belongs to a large genus of biting flies whose members are known for their blood-feeding behavior and roles as pests of livestock and wildlife.
horse-fly biting-fly Tabanidae United-States Macquart-1850
Tabanus gladiator
Tabanus gladiator is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Stone in 1935. It is distributed in the United States. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the general characteristics of large, robust biting flies with prominent compound eyes. The specific epithet "gladiator" suggests a potentially distinctive or formidable appearance among horse flies.
horse-fly biting-fly Tabanidae United-States Stone-1935
Tabanus kesseli
Tabanus kesseli is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1950. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it belongs to a large group of biting flies known for their robust bodies and large eyes. The species is recognized as valid by GBIF and iNaturalist, though the Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. Very little specific information about this species has been published in accessible sources.
horse-fly Tabanidae biting-fly Diptera Philip-1950 North-America
Tabanus laticeps
broad-headed horse fly
Tabanus laticeps is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Hine in 1904. The species is found in the southern United States and Mexico. Like other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and other plant fluids. The species name 'laticeps' refers to the characteristically broad head of this species.
horse-fly biting-fly blood-feeder broad-headed Nearctic
Tabanus lineola
striped horse fly
Tabanus lineola, commonly known as the striped horse fly, is a biting horse fly native to eastern and southern North America. Females are aggressive blood-feeders of humans and livestock, recognized by a pale median stripe on the abdomen, while males lack this feature, do not bite, and have bare eyes. The species has a univoltine life cycle with larvae developing in saturated sandy soils near water bodies.
biting-fly horse-fly livestock-pest univoltine sexual-dimorphism medically-important
Tabanus marginalis
horse fly
Tabanus marginalis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Fabricius in 1805. Like other horse flies in the genus Tabanus, it belongs to a group of large, biting flies known for their blood-feeding females and non-biting males. The species occurs in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. Specific ecological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
horse-fly Tabanidae North-America Diptera biting-fly
Tabanus molestus
horse fly
Tabanus molestus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is distributed in the United States. Like other horse flies, females possess blade-like mouthparts adapted for cutting skin to obtain blood meals, while males have reduced mouthparts and do not blood feed. The species is part of the diverse genus Tabanus, which includes some of the largest biting flies in North America.
Tabanidae horse-fly Diptera biting-fly United-States Say-1823
Tabanus nigrovittatus
greenhead horse fly, salt marsh greenhead, greenhead fly, greenhead, greenfly
Tabanus nigrovittatus, commonly known as the greenhead horse fly or salt marsh greenhead, is a biting horse fly species endemic to coastal salt marshes of the eastern United States. Adult females are aggressive blood-feeders that require vertebrate blood for egg production, while males do not feed on blood. The species is smaller than most horse flies, approximately the size of a house fly. Larvae develop in intertidal salt marsh mud for one to two years, preying on other invertebrates. Adults emerge in late spring and are most active from late June through August. The species is a significant human and animal pest, with populations managed through black box traps rather than insecticides due to ecological concerns.
horse-fly biting-fly salt-marsh pest green-eyes blood-feeder predatory-larvae visual-hunter eastern-US-coast
Tabanus novaescotiae
Nova Scotia horse fly
Tabanus novaescotiae is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Macquart in 1847. The species is distributed across eastern North America, with confirmed records from Canada and the United States. Like other horse flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their robust bodies and large eyes. The specific epithet references Nova Scotia, suggesting the type locality or an early collection location.
horse-fly biting-fly eastern-North-America Macquart-1847
Tabanus pallidescens
horse fly
Tabanus pallidescens is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1936. It belongs to the large genus Tabanus, which contains many biting fly species distributed across North America. The species is poorly documented in the scientific literature, with minimal published information on its biology and ecology.
horse-fly Tabanidae Diptera biting-fly
Tabanus pumilus
horse fly
Tabanus pumilus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Macquart in 1838. The specific epithet "pumilus" (Latin for "dwarf" or "small") suggests this species is relatively small compared to other horse flies in the genus. Like other Tabanus species, females are blood-feeding while males feed on nectar. The species has been recorded from the northeastern United States, with confirmed observations from Vermont.
horse-fly biting-fly Tabanidae North-America hematophagous nuisance-pest
Tabanus punctifer
western horse fly, western black horse fly
Tabanus punctifer, commonly known as the western horse fly or western black horse fly, is a large biting fly in the family Tabanidae. It is distinguished from other North American horse flies by its creamy white thorax covered with long hairs and completely black abdomen. Females require blood meals for egg development and bite horses, livestock, and humans. The species is found throughout the southern and western United States.
horse-fly biting-fly livestock-pest vector western-United-States
Tabanus sequax
Pursuing Horse Fly
Tabanus sequax, commonly known as the Pursuing Horse Fly, is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The species was described by Williston in 1887 and is currently recognized as a synonym of Hybomitra sequax in modern taxonomic treatments. As with other horse flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their persistent pursuit of mammalian hosts. The species has been documented from at least two observations, though detailed biological information remains limited.
horse-fly biting-fly Diptera Tabanidae synonym Hybomitra North-America
Tabanus similis
striped horse fly
Tabanus similis, commonly known as the striped horse fly, is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is distributed across Canada and the United States. Like other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and other sugary substances. The species is recognized by its distinctive striped patterning.
Tabanidae horse-fly striped-horse-fly North-America biting-fly Diptera
Tabanus sparus milleri
A subspecies of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Whitney in 1914. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the characteristic large size and biting mouthparts typical of horse flies. The subspecies designation indicates geographic or morphological variation within the broader Tabanus sparus species complex.
horse-fly tabanid biting-fly Diptera Tabanus
Tabanus subniger
Tabanus subniger is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Coquillett in 1906. It was originally described as a subspecies of Tabanus atratus (the black horse fly) but is now recognized as a distinct species. The species belongs to a genus of large, robust flies known for their biting mouthparts and association with mammals.
horse-fly Tabanidae Diptera biting-fly
Tabanus subsimilis
horse fly
Tabanus subsimilis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Bellardi in 1859. The species occurs in the southern United States and Mexico. Like other horse flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their blood-feeding behavior by females and their ecological roles as pollinators and prey for other organisms.
horse-fly biting-fly Tabanidae North-America