The Other Hole Punch - _TNY_9533
While out on Havtornsudd Point on the Gålö peninsula, I discovered a huge patch of the highly invasive Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica).
On the side of it away from the wind were plenty of cool bugs thoug, so I stayed there shooting for a while.
While doing so, I got a bit of unwanted attention though. You see, a female pale giant horsefly (Tabanus bovinus) had found me and was considering trying to use that stiletto face to cut a hole in me and drink up some blood which she needs for the development of her eggs.
Together with the slightly larger Tabanus sudeticus, these are the heaviest flies in Europe (and about 25 mm / 1" in body length) and a bite (or "cut" really) from one of these isn't a pleasant experience at all. As the name "bovinus" inplies, these are primarily interested in horses and cows, but it landed on my leg and poked around a bit, looking like it was trying to figure my work pants out - but no actual attempt at piercing them was made.
A couple of days earlier, I actually had a female T. sudeticus visiting me at home so I got a couple of shots of her as well which can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52222975285/
The eye colours don't match my identifications, but I believe the difference in colouration of the third antennal segment is a more reliable character for identification.
The Other Hole Punch - _TNY_9533
While out on Havtornsudd Point on the Gålö peninsula, I discovered a huge patch of the highly invasive Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica).
On the side of it away from the wind were plenty of cool bugs thoug, so I stayed there shooting for a while.
While doing so, I got a bit of unwanted attention though. You see, a female pale giant horsefly (Tabanus bovinus) had found me and was considering trying to use that stiletto face to cut a hole in me and drink up some blood which she needs for the development of her eggs.
Together with the slightly larger Tabanus sudeticus, these are the heaviest flies in Europe (and about 25 mm / 1" in body length) and a bite (or "cut" really) from one of these isn't a pleasant experience at all. As the name "bovinus" inplies, these are primarily interested in horses and cows, but it landed on my leg and poked around a bit, looking like it was trying to figure my work pants out - but no actual attempt at piercing them was made.
A couple of days earlier, I actually had a female T. sudeticus visiting me at home so I got a couple of shots of her as well which can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52222975285/
The eye colours don't match my identifications, but I believe the difference in colouration of the third antennal segment is a more reliable character for identification.