Triclista Long-tongued Horse Fly
Triclista guttata
Family: Tabanidae
Order Diptera
A very large Horse Fly with a body length of 2cm. These horse flies have a long, stout proboscis which ends in a sharp cutting edge. They can give a painful bite and can easily penetrate clothing in their search for a blood meal. It is the female that seeks a blood meal - cutting the skin first and then sucking from the bleeding wound.
It seems the eyes always meet in the middle so that seems not to be a way to distinguish the sexes.
The larvae are aquatic or live in damp or muddy environments so the adults are usually found near water.
DSC06797_DSC06810_DSC06813 LR TZ
Triclista Long-tongued Horse Fly
Triclista guttata
Family: Tabanidae
Order Diptera
A very large Horse Fly with a body length of 2cm. These horse flies have a long, stout proboscis which ends in a sharp cutting edge. They can give a painful bite and can easily penetrate clothing in their search for a blood meal. It is the female that seeks a blood meal - cutting the skin first and then sucking from the bleeding wound.
It seems the eyes always meet in the middle so that seems not to be a way to distinguish the sexes.
The larvae are aquatic or live in damp or muddy environments so the adults are usually found near water.
DSC06797_DSC06810_DSC06813 LR TZ