Horse-fly
Guides
Agkistrocerus finitimus
Agkistrocerus finitimus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Stone in 1938. It is a member of the diverse dipteran family known for blood-feeding females and aquatic or semi-aquatic larval development. The genus Agkistrocerus is relatively poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Apatolestes actites
Apatolestes actites is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described from coastal California in 1962. It is notable for being autogenous—females can produce eggs without requiring a blood meal, a relatively uncommon trait among tabanids. The species is restricted to coastal habitats in California and has been the subject of limited biological study.
Atylotus calcar
Atylotus calcar is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Teskey in 1983. As a member of the genus Atylotus, it belongs to a group of medium to large-sized biting flies commonly known as horse flies or deer flies. The species is part of the tribe Tabanini within the subfamily Tabaninae. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only six documented observations on iNaturalist.
Atylotus duplex
horse fly
Atylotus duplex is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It has been documented in seasonal flight activity studies in Connecticut, indicating adult activity patterns in that region. The species occurs in North America with records from Canada and the United States. Like other horse flies, adults are likely diurnal and females probably require blood meals for egg development, though specific biological details for this species remain limited in the available literature.
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.
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis
Green Horse Fly
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis is the only green tabanid horse fly in North America. It is a blood-feeding species active primarily at night, with females using carbon dioxide sensing to locate mammalian hosts. The species has been recorded from Texas to Delaware, with peak adult activity in Florida occurring from May to mid-July. Larvae are predaceous and develop in moist soil and aquatic edge habitats.
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-flyTabanidaeDipteramedical-entomologyovipositionfecundityring-clawed-deer-flyVermontUnited-Statesmud-substrategelatinous-egg-massChrysopsinaeChrysopsiniWalker-1848iNaturalistlaboratory-rearingegg-mass156-eggsrange-42-312near-watermud-like-substrateegg-depositionreproductionbehavioral-studymedical-entomology-researchinsect-vectorsbiting-fliestabanid-flieshorse-fliesdeer-fliesChrysopsNorth-AmericaNew-Englandobservation-recordssynonym-status-in-Catalogue-of-Lifeaccepted-status-in-GBIFarthropodinsectflyBrachyceraTabanomorphaHexapodaPterygotaAnimaliaArthropodaInsectacincticornisChrysops-cincticornis-Walker-1848Chrysops-(Chrysops)-cincticornisdeerflyhorseflytabanidbiting-flyvectoroviposition-behaviorfecundity-studyJournal-of-Medical-Entomology198210.1093/jmedent/19.5.597gelatinous-secretionmudwaterlaboratory-conditionsmean-fecundityegg-productionreproductive-biologyentomologyinsect-behaviorinsect-reproductiondipterantrue-flytwo-winged-flynematoceranCyclorrhaphaAschizaSchizophoraAcalyptrataeCalyptrataeOestroideaMuscoideaHippoboscoideaGlossinidaeCalliphoridaeSarcophagidaeMuscidaeFanniidaeAnthomyiidaeScathophagidaeOestridaeTachinidaeSiphonapteraPhthirapteraHemipteraColeopteraLepidopteraHymenopteraNeuropteraMegalopteraRaphidiopteraTrichopteraStrepsipteraMecopteraDipluraProturaCollembolaZygentomaArchaeognathaEphemeropteraOdonataPlecopteraGrylloblattodeaMantophasmatodeaPhasmatodeaOrthopteraDermapteraEmbiopteraZorapteraIsopteraBlattodeaMantodeaPhyllodocidaNotopteraWalker1848speciestaxongelatinoushabitatdistributionGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBIlaboratory-studybehaviorlife-cyclesubstratemud-likemeanrange42-312femaleobservationrecordspecimencollectionmuseumresearchstudyarticleabstractDOIbiologyecologyhorse-flyacceptedsynonymtaxonomyclassificationUS291-observationslaboratory291-iNaturalist-observationsGBIF-distribution-recordsaccepted-species-statussynonym-in-Catalogue-of-Life156-eggs-mean-fecundityrange-42-312-eggs1982-Journal-of-Medical-Entomology-publicationDOI-10.1093/jmedent/19.5.597entomology-researchdipteran-biologyChrysops 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.
Chrysops nigripes
Chrysops nigripes is a species of deer fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Zetterstedt in 1838. Larval development has been documented in subarctic peatland environments, where the species occupies aquatic to semi-aquatic microhabitats. Life cycle completion at subarctic latitudes may require 7–8 years, indicating exceptionally slow growth rates compared to temperate populations of related species.
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.
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.
Esenbeckia delta
Esenbeckia delta is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. Originally described as Pangonia delta by Hine in 1920, it was later transferred to the genus Esenbeckia. The species is known from the United States and Mexico. Like other tabanids, adults are likely blood-feeders, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Esenbeckia tinkhami
A species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1954. Known from limited records in the southwestern United States.
Goniops chrysocoma
Golden-haired Horse Fly
Goniops chrysocoma is the sole species in the monotypic genus Goniops, a horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is found in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont. The species is characterized by its distinctive golden-haired appearance, which contributes to its common name. As a member of the horse fly family, it belongs to a group of blood-feeding flies known for their painful bites and ecological significance as pollinators and prey for other animals.
Haematopota americana
horse fly
Haematopota americana is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1875. It belongs to a genus known for blood-feeding females that are persistent pests of mammals, including humans and livestock. The species is recorded from the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in published literature. Like other horse flies, it likely has aquatic or semi-aquatic larval stages and terrestrial adults.
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.
Hamatabanus floridensis
Hamatabanus floridensis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The genus Hamatabanus is a small group within the tabanid flies, and this species appears to be associated with Florida based on its specific epithet. Like other horse flies, adults are likely to be blood-feeders, though specific details about this species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Hybomitra
horse flies
Hybomitra is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae, containing at least 240 described species. The genus includes Hybomitra hinei, which holds the record for the fastest flying insect, with males documented reaching 89 miles per hour while pursuing air rifle pellets. Species in this genus are found across the Holarctic region, with records from Scandinavia, North America, and other temperate regions. As with other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar.
Hybomitra aequetincta
Hybomitra aequetincta is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to the genus Hybomitra, a group known for fast-flying, robust-bodied flies. The species was described by Becker in 1900. Like other horse flies, adults are likely to be diurnal and females are presumed to be blood-feeders, though specific details for this species are poorly documented. It is among the lesser-known members of a genus containing some of the fastest flying insects recorded.
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.
Hybomitra astuta
horse fly
Hybomitra astuta is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to a genus known for containing some of the fastest-flying insects. The species has been documented in parts of North America and northern Europe. Like other horse flies, adults are likely blood-feeding, though specific details for this species remain limited.
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.
Hybomitra captonis
horse fly
Hybomitra captonis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The species is distributed across northern North America, including Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Hybomitra, it belongs to a group known for rapid flight capabilities, though specific speed records for this species have not been documented.
Hybomitra cincta
Hybomitra cincta is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is distributed across Canada and the United States, with records from Vermont and other regions. As a member of the horse fly genus Hybomitra, it shares the family's characteristic blood-feeding behavior by females and the robust, agile flying morphology typical of tabanids.
Hybomitra difficilis
Hybomitra difficilis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Wiedemann in 1828. The species has been the subject of detailed anatomical studies examining the sensory structures associated with its feeding apparatus. The feeding tube consists of a short distal vestibule followed by a food canal leading to the cibarium, with distinct sensilla arrangements that have been statistically characterized. Like other horse flies, adults are likely blood-feeding, though specific host associations and ecological details remain poorly documented.
Hybomitra epistates
Epistate Horse Fly
Hybomitra epistates is a horse fly species in the family Tabanidae, commonly known as the Epistate Horse Fly. 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 noted for including some of the fastest-flying insects. The species is documented through limited observation records, with 56 observations reported on iNaturalist.
Hybomitra frontalis
horse fly
Hybomitra frontalis is a Nearctic horse fly species in the family Tabanidae. It is among the most widely distributed, abundant, and troublesome biters of animals and humans in North America. The species exhibits extreme variation in color and size across its range, particularly in Canadian populations from Nova Scotia, Labrador, and central Manitoba. Taxonomic relationships within the H. frontalis complex have been debated for over a century, with five nominal species described from regional populations.
Hybomitra hinei
horse fly
Hybomitra hinei is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. A male of the subspecies Hybomitra hinei wrighti has been documented reaching flight speeds of up to 145 km per hour when pursuing a female, representing one of the fastest recorded insect flight speeds. The species occurs in North America.
Hybomitra illota
horse fly
Hybomitra illota is a horse fly species in the family Tabanidae. Males form aggregations in forest clearings, exhibiting a "perch-and-pursue" mating behavior where they chase flying insects overhead. This species occurs in temperate North America, with documented populations in Canada and the United States.
Hybomitra lanifera
Hybomitra lanifera is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by McDunnough in 1922. Like other members of the genus Hybomitra, it is a fast-flying dipteran. The genus is notable for containing some of the fastest flying insects known, with congener Hybomitra hinei recorded at 89 miles per hour. Information specific to H. lanifera remains limited in published sources.
Hybomitra lurida
Broad-headed Horse Fly
Hybomitra lurida is a large horse-fly species in the family Tabanidae, measuring 12–15 millimetres in length. It is distributed across central and northern Europe, Asia, and North America including Canada, Alaska, and portions of the contiguous United States. Adults are active during summer months and are frequently associated with cattle in open landscapes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hybomitra procyon
horse fly
Hybomitra procyon is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1877. It belongs to the genus Hybomitra, a group of large, biting flies commonly known as horse flies or deer flies. The species occurs in North America, with documented records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to have biting mouthparts and a life cycle involving aquatic or semi-aquatic larval stages, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
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.
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.
Hybomitra sonomensis
horse fly
Hybomitra sonomensis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to a species group that has been subject to taxonomic revision, with Hybomitra philipi now synonymized with it. The species occurs in western North America. It has been historically confused with related species, particularly Hybomitra enigmatica, which was described as a new species based on immature stages and adult morphology.
Leucotabanus annulatus
Leucotabanus annulatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to the tribe Diachlorini within the subfamily Tabaninae. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is found in the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available sources.
Microtabanus pygmaeus
Microtabanus pygmaeus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Samuel Wendell Williston in 1887. It belongs to the genus Microtabanus, which comprises small-bodied tabanid flies. The species epithet 'pygmaeus' refers to its diminutive size relative to other horse flies. Like other members of the family, adults likely possess the large compound eyes and piercing-sucking mouthparts characteristic of blood-feeding female tabanids, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
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.
Silvius jeanae
Silvius jeanae is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Pechuman in 1960. The genus Silvius belongs to the subfamily Pangoniinae, a group of horse flies characterized by elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding in many species. Like other members of the genus, S. jeanae likely exhibits the slender body form and reduced eye contact typical of Pangoniinae. The species epithet honors an individual named Jeana, following the pattern of several Silvius species named after women.
Silvius pollinosus
horse fly, deer fly
Silvius pollinosus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Williston in 1880. It belongs to the subfamily Chrysopsinae and is classified within the genus Silvius. The species is known from the United States, though specific details about its biology remain limited.
Stenotabanus psammophilus
Stenotabanus psammophilus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1876. The species epithet 'psammophilus' (sand-loving) suggests an association with sandy environments. It is known from the United States, with 48 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Like other horse flies, females are presumed to be blood-feeders, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Stonemyia californica
Stonemyia californica is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Bigot in 1892. The species is distributed across western North America, with records from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. As a member of the subfamily Pangoniinae, it belongs to a group of flies characterized by elongated mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding rather than blood-feeding.
Stonemyia isabellina
Stonemyia isabellina is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Wiedemann in 1828. It belongs to the subfamily Pangoniinae and tribe Pangoniini. The species has been documented in the United States, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Tabanus aegrotus
Tabanus aegrotus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Osten Sacken in 1877. It is distributed across northern North America, including Canada and 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 species is recognized as valid by GBIF and NCBI, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym.
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.
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.