|
|
|
|
These species are
generally found in areas where permanent wetlands and marshes are
nearby, as the larvae are semi aquatic.
Horseflies are mostly observed in
numbers in rural areas where they are a pest of livestock. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Horse Flies
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class: |
Insecta |
|
|
Order: |
Diptera |
|
|
Family: |
Tabanidae |
|
|
Bites
are usually painful, involving the fly extracting a blood meal
from a large mammalian host (livestock, humans etc). These flies
are not associated with the transmission of disease. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mated adult females lay
batches of eggs onto the leaves of plants in marshy or waterlogged
areas. Hatch occurs generally in 1 - 2 weeks, the larval
stages dropping into nearby water and passing through up to 8
instars over several months before reaching pupation. This
occurs in the mud, with the adult emerging less than 1 month
later. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control of these species
in the practical sense is extremely diffucult due to the nature of
their life cycle.
Livestock may be partially
protected by the use of impregnated ear tags where
permitted. Repellents such as DEET may be effective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
