horsefly

horsefly [hôrs′flī΄]

n.

pl. horseflies 〚ME hors fleege〛

1. any of a number of large dipterous flies (family Tabanidae), the female of which sucks the blood of horses, cattle, etc.

2. any of various other dipterous flies that bite or infest horses, esp. any of a family (Gasterophilidae) of botflies

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horse·fly also horse fly (hôrsʹflī') n.

Any of numerous large flies of the family Tabanidae, the females of which suck the blood of various mammals.

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Any member of the dipteran genus Tabanus or, more generally, of the family Tabanidae.

These stout flies range from as small as a housefly to as large as a bumblebee. Sometimes called greenheaded monsters, horseflies have metallic or iridescent eyes. Adults are fast, strong fliers usually found around streams, marshes, and wooded areas. They may carry animal diseases, including anthrax, tularemia, and trypanosomiasis. The bites of the bloodsucking females can be painful, and a swarm may suck more than 3 oz (about 90 ml) of blood a day from an animal. Males feed on nectar, honeydew, and plant sap. Horseflies of the genus Chrysops, usually called deerflies, are smaller and have dark markings on the wings.

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