Horsefly: description, species, distribution area, feeding habits of females and males, danger to humans

What are the danger

Horseflies and gadflies cause a lot of inconvenience to both humans and animals. It is very difficult to determine which of them is more dangerous. The danger of horseflies increases due to the fact that they prefer to actively use the blood of the victim. It serves not only as a source of nutrition, but also an integral part of the breeding process. For 1 time, horsefly is able to drink up to 200 ml of blood from the body of its victim. A massive insect attack on cattle herds can cut milk production by a quarter. Farmers suffer considerable losses from this, therefore they prefer horseflies, do not skimp and allocate part of the funds specifically for the prevention of their appearance, acquiring.
The danger among the entire subfamily of gadflies is represented by only 2 species, which are common in our country. They do not drink blood, but even without this they pose a serious danger to humans and animals.

Harm to a living organism is caused by an adult female implanting under the skin of animals or humans. As a result of the development of larvae inside the host's body, he has a deterioration in health, discomfort, weakness, and many other unpleasant consequences. In the most severe cases, the larvae can be trapped in a person's eye or head. In this case, only a complex operation will help to solve the problem, which cannot guarantee the return of full health. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to use.

Thus, the difference between a gadfly and a horsefly is colossal. These are completely different insects that differ in reproduction, nutrition and appearance. But these large families are united by similarities - they all cause a lot of inconvenience and trouble to a person and his household.

The ability to distinguish gadflies from horseflies should help not only find an effective way to deal with them, but also know what danger they pose in order to properly defend themselves.

Horsefly is a family of Diptera insects distributed all over the world with the exception of its distant corners. The main task of this living creature is to leave offspring after itself. Active reproduction of large flies occurs in warm seasons, when the female lays eggs. Soon a horsefly larva is born. What is it and should you be afraid of it?

Differences in reproduction

Gadfly and horsefly
The most striking meaning by which one can answer how the gadfly differs from the horsefly is the peculiarity of their reproduction. Gadflies prefer to lay their eggs in the body of a mammal, less often a person.

Different species of these bloodsuckers find different ways of introducing larvae into the host's body. There are such ways:

1. The female lays eggs on the grass, which the animal absorbs for food.
2. Viviparous gadflies. The female immediately lays the larva on the part of the body that the animal most often scratches and licks. Further development of the individual takes place in the stomach of the host.
3. Injection under the skin. The most popular breeding method. The female gadfly chooses a place on the body of the cattle so that it cannot reach it and lays eggs under the skin.

Interesting!

Most often, horseflies attack horses, gadflies attack cattle.

The main difference in how gadflies and horseflies reproduce is the place where the eggs are laid. Horseflies do not implant their larvae under the skin or inside humans and animals. They make clutches in grass or soil. The female horsefly chooses darkened areas near water bodies and rivers as a place for laying.

Among the similarities, one can note the identical stages of development of individuals:

1. Egg.
2. Larva.
3. Doll.
4. An adult.

When considering the question of how long gadflies and horseflies live, it is necessary to build on their stage of development.

• The gadfly spends most of its life at the larval stage. The complete life cycle is 28 days. a year passes before the full release of an adult.
• Horseflies live a little longer. An adult is limited to the warm period of the year, as long as there is free access to food. In less mature stages of development, horseflies live for several years until they are fully ripe.

Horsefly life

Where do horseflies live? They live on all continents of the world with the exception of Antarctica. They can not be found on some remote islands, separated from the mainland: Iceland and Greenland. The largest number of horseflies (and, interestingly, also in terms of species diversity) is found in swampy areas, at the borders of different zones, not far from pastures and livestock corrals. Also, the number of insects increases as we approach settlements.

These blood-sucking flies feel good in light forests, fields, steppes, as well as in deserts and on mountain slopes. Horseflies are crowded to bodies of water where there is the necessary moisture. Larvae of most species develop in water. Adults spend most of their lives in flight, being well oriented in the terrain. They love sunny and hot weather, so they are most active during the daytime on summer days.

Food

The horsefly diet depends on the phase of its development and gender. Insect larvae eat invertebrates living in water bodies or soil. The food of adult specimens, called adults, varies: males eat only plant products (nectar of flowers, plant sap) or "milk" from aphids, and fertilized females are literally bloodthirsty. For its vital activity, animal blood is needed - up to 200 mg at a time. As long as the female does not expect offspring, then she can exist on plant food.

Females can feed on carrion: carcasses of animals that died 1-3 days ago. Because of this, insects become carriers of infectious diseases.

Reproduction

Caring for the procreation and breeding of offspring in blood-sucking flies begins in the warm season. The exact period depends on the climate of the area and the specific type of insect. The way horseflies reproduce is identical with the type of reproduction in dipterans. Under favorable circumstances, heterosexual individuals mate, and after a while makes a clutch. Pregnant female horseflies need to feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals.

Horsefly development takes place in 4 stages:

1. Eggs. One female can lay from 400 to 1000 pieces. The eggs are elongated.
2. Larvae. They are spindle-shaped and have no limbs.
3. Doll. It looks like a butterfly pupa.
4. The imago is an adult insect. How many horseflies live depends on the species. But their age cannot be called long: it usually lasts one summer.

The total duration of horsefly from the moment of laying eggs to the death of adults is up to 4 years.

Habitat

Horseflies live on all continents and in almost all countries, they are not only in Antarctica, Iceland, Greenland and on some islands of Oceania. The main habitats are the shores of water bodies, which is associated with the peculiarities of reproduction and nutrition, since there are often pastures, which means there are animals and food sources. These insects are most active in June-July, during the breeding season.At this time, cattle especially suffer from their bites, eat poorly and lose weight.

Tags: allergens

Common types of horseflies

On the territory of the CIS countries, there are about 200 species of horseflies. The most common representatives of species and genera are worth considering in more detail.

Rains or hemolysis (Haematopota)

A very common genus of horseflies, including about 400 species of insects with a characteristic appearance.

These are ash-gray flies ranging in length from 6 to 13 mm with a marbled wing pattern. They hunt silently, attack both in clear and rainy weather. Raincoats live in Eurasia and Africa.

Treatment

Given the likelihood of infection of the wound with pathogenic microorganisms, it is necessary to immediately rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide and apply a bandage with antiseptic drugs.

Horseflies live almost everywhere, except for hot deserts. A huge number of species have found their distribution in the tropics. In the whole world, there are more than 3500 species of these insects. More than 200 species of these blood-sucking insects have been registered in the vastness of Russia.

The difference between horsefly larvae and gadfly larvae why people confuse these insects

The only harm caused by these insects is the painful bites of the females. Horseflies lay eggs on plants, so the question of how to remove the horsefly larva is incorrect. It is, most likely, about gadfly larvae.

During summer gardening work, many gardeners repeatedly experience the bites of various blood-sucking insects, among which the most intrusive are horsefly and gadfly: the differences between insects are implicit, an uninitiated person is unlikely to be able to distinguish them from each other in real conditions.

Nutrition and maturation

It is believed that this insect got its name because of its excessive obsession. Females do not see any purpose in their existence other than to drink blood, it is for this reason that they often hang around people and animals, not thinking about the danger. Males are calmer, their life cycle is shorter, so they do not need blood, while females can drink 0.2 g of blood at a time, which is a huge dose for such a small insect. Cattle suffer the most from these bloodsuckers: cows begin to give less milk, get sick and literally go crazy from annoying neighbors.

Blood is needed for horseflies not only as food, but also as a substance that allows them to reproduce. One female is able to hatch more than 2 thousand eggs laid in the ground per season. Often, plant leaves or moss are the places of deposition.

The larvae mature for 2 weeks in the shell, then hatch and for another six months are in an underdeveloped state and feed on the remnants of plant food. Only in spring does the process of final ripening begin, which lasts more than a month.

Due to the fact that animal carcasses are also a favorite treat, they are carriers of dangerous diseases, including polio, ulcers, etc.

Appearance

Horsefly does not even reach 3 cm in length. Its body is more elongated, in contrast to an ordinary fly. They have a large head, with disproportionate large eyes, allowing them to observe moving subjects and attack them.

The wings are transparent or gray, single, like a fly. The body is monochromatic: brown, gray, almost black, or beige with dark blotches.

Features of the gadfly

Nutrition and maturation

Very often there is confusion between horsefly and gadfly. The difference between them lies in nutrition. The latter practically do not eat and stick to people and animals simply by their nature, imposing themselves like flies.

After hatching, the females look for a mate for themselves, lay the larvae and immediately die. Their life cycle does not last long, they store their strength for this time while still in the egg.

Adults are more intrusive than horseflies, since its purpose is to lay eggs in the folds of the animal's body.

Mating between male and female occurs a few days after hatching. They can live another month in order to have time to postpone offspring. One individual is capable of laying about 700 eggs on the body of one animal.

The most common places for laying are the following:

• groin area;
• stomach;
• hips.

Due to the fact that the body temperature of the animal exceeds the ambient temperature, after 3-5 days the bloodsucker larva hatches from the egg and moves under the host's skin to the spine. There she bites a hole in her skin for breathing. After ripening, it falls out of the hole, for some time it is in the animal's place of residence (stall, barn) and flies away.

The appearance of a gadfly practically does not differ from that of an ordinary fly. In length, it does not exceed 1.5 cm. It has small transparent wings, large eyes and a black or brown body.

He does not attack a person directly, even a human gadfly uses bloodsuckers in contact with a person so that they implant eggs under the skin of a person. Mosquitoes are common carriers of eggs.

Features of life

It is inappropriate to look for differences between a gadfly, horsefly and spider.

On a note!

The gadfly and the spider are one and the same insect. The more common name for biting flies sounds exactly like a gadfly, and paut is just a regional name for an insect that was assigned to it in certain areas of the country. Therefore, in order to protect oneself, a person must be able to recognize only a gadfly and a horsefly, the differences of which must be sought in appearance.

In the photo of the gadfly and horsefly, it is clearly visible that the latter are larger flies, which are equipped with two pairs of wings and large bright eyes that occupy most of the body. Gadflies are much smaller and less colorful in color. only one pair of wings and more yellow on the body. The photo of the difference between the blind and the gadfly clearly demonstrates the external differences.

Gadfly and horsefly

Also, gadflies and horseflies feed in different ways. Male horseflies lead a herbivorous lifestyle and prefer to eat only plant juices and nectar. Females do the same. After the female is ready to mate, she becomes very aggressive and goes into a predatory lifestyle.

Interesting!

Horseflies can also feed on animal corpses. Such food is attractive to them only for several days after the death of the victim.

Adult gadflies generally feed on it. This explains their short life cycle. Nutrition and accumulation of nutrients occurs at the larval stage. When the gadfly has wings and the ability to mate, they begin to actively lay eggs and mate.

Varieties of insects

Frequently encountered species of the described insect include:

• Bovine horsefly - considered to be the largest species of the described family, reaching a length of about 20 mm. Horsefly bovine Diptera insect belonging to the horsefly family. This horsefly species lives in Europe, painted brown, with dark stripes and yellowish hairs located on the body.

  Bull horsefly photo

• Gold-eyed or variegated - about 250 species of horseflies are equated to the described genus. The most common horsefly is the common lacewing, reaching a length of 14 mm and having a rather bright color of its body. The chest of this insect casts a blackish color, while the abdomen is complemented by original yellow spots. The wings of the lacewing are mosaic in color, the apex of which is completed by brown spots located on them. Huge faceted eyes cast an emerald-golden color;

  Photo

• An ordinary raincoat - which has a modest color and wings with a complex smoky pattern.The described type of insects can produce, so to speak, a real horsefly bite, even in gloomy and cloudy weather.

Larva - one of the stages of development

The development of any kind of horseflies, like other dipterans, goes through 4 phases:

• eggs that are part of a large clutch;
• larvae;
• pupae;
• imago - an adult fly, which can further participate in the reproduction of offspring.

Soon after mating, which usually occurs in warm weather, the female needs to consume the blood of the animals. Human blood will come in handy. After 3-5 days, the individual makes a clutch of eggs, from which larvae will appear very soon.

Photo of a horsefly larva, in which you can already see large eyes characteristic of these insects

Place for laying and hatching of larvae

All that the young offspring of blood-sucking flies need is a sufficient air temperature, the presence of life-giving moisture and abundant food. Larvae left without food can easily die. Therefore, a caring female is looking for an optimal place for development, giving preference to wetlands, the shores of natural and artificial reservoirs.

Horseflies do not lay larvae under the skin of mammals. This is done by their "relatives" - gadflies.

Then comes the time for the eggs to be born. This occurs in May or during the summer months when the weather is warm enough to prevent offspring from dying from the cold. The female sits on the plants and lays her eggs on the underside of the leaf blades or stems. To do this, she makes movements with the end of the abdomen back and forth.

In females of most species of horseflies, in the genitals there are special accessory glands that can secrete a substance special for creating masonry. It is sticky, leaves the oviduct and allows eggs to stick to the surface of plants. When the first layer is created, the female gradually glues the subsequent rows on top of it so that the structure does not fall apart. This usually occurs diagonally to the leaf or stems. The result of this activity is a compact and solid pile of eggs, scientifically called a cluster. Its size and shape depends on the type of horsefly.

The female lays the entire cluster at one time, and it usually contains from 400 to 600 eggs. Particularly fertile species leave up to 1000 pieces. The eggs themselves are colored white or pale milky immediately after emergence. After a few hours, they begin to gradually darken, eventually acquiring a black or brown-brown color.

It takes from 3 to 8 days for the larvae to emerge from the clutch, on average 6. When the time comes to hatch, the larva uses a special sharp spike that pierces the egg shell. After that, she falls to the ground or into the water (it depends on where exactly the female laid the clutch). Then individuals creep away in search of food. Living together is unusual for them.

In bad weather conditions (low air temperature, cold wind), the process of hatching the larvae can take up to 3-4 weeks.

The appearance of the gadfly larva

The horsefly larva has a long fusiform body. The color depends on the species: usually it is brown in various shades, sometimes beige and yellowish. The body is divided into 12 distinct segments. On their borders there are thickenings in the form of a roller or growths that look like warts. They are necessary for the larvae to move, because they have no legs. Small bristles also help them move. Such adaptations are a feature of the family and are absent in other dipterans. The growths are called pseudopodia.

The last segment of the body is cone-shaped. It ends with stigmas, or spiracles, which are necessary for young larvae to obtain oxygen.These holes are one vertical slit that opens outward as needed. Between the first and second segments on the lateral surface of the body, there is also a pair of anterior spiracles, which are greatly reduced in size compared to the posterior ones. They can only be viewed with magnification.

The head of the larva is small and slightly elongated. She has a pair of black eyes and a hook-shaped upper lip. The upper jaws are curved and rather thin, while the lower ones have a soft structure. The larvae have tentacles located at the bottom of the head, and antennae of short length, which help in finding food.

The larvae of most horseflies live in stagnant water, where they are not carried away by strong currents. For example, in Tabanus (bovine horsefly), they are excellent at swimming on the surface. In the lacewing, the larva immediately after hatching from the egg goes to the bottom of the reservoir, where it buries itself in the bottom soil or silt.

In the climate of the middle zone, horseflies manage to give birth to only 1 generation of larvae. In tropical countries, these insects manage to do this up to several times.

Larvae feeding

For constant growth and a set of nutrients for further transformation into a pupa, the larvae need a lot of food. Mostly they are predators eating small invertebrates living in water or soil.

The larvae always keep one by one, actively using their antennae and tentacles located on the lower jaws. In the absence of food of animal origin, future horseflies do not disdain plant food, feeding on half-decomposed remains of plants and algae. Horsefly larvae are both predators and saprophages at the same time.

Larva development

By the beginning of autumn, the larva is only half ready for the further stage of development. Therefore, it remains in this phase to winter. The transformation will end only in the spring, together with the establishment of warm weather. For all being in the larval stage, the future horsefly makes 6 molts. When the time comes to turn into a pupa, the larva crawls out onto the soil and crawls to a drier place.

Symptoms of a horsefly bite

The insect bite is very painful and sometimes has serious consequences. After all, poisonous saliva penetrates into the wound. This liquid contains anticoagulants and toxic substances:

1. Toxins entering the human body lead to tissue edema, pain, itching, burning sensation, redness, and quite often to allergic reactions.
2. Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting in the wound, which causes prolonged bleeding and prolongs healing.

In addition to skin symptoms, the following signs of a horsefly bite may be present:

• weakness;
• nausea;
• breathing disorder;
• dizziness.

Horsefly is not an insect that is quietly able to approach the intended victim. It is impossible not to notice the approach of an aggressive large fly. However, sometimes horseflies do not hunt alone. And when one individual distracts the object, the other attacks.

But even if it was not possible to notice the one who made the attack, this bite cannot be confused with any other. A large tumor appears at the site of the lesion, usually white with a wide red border along the edge.

Consequences: allergies, bumps and infections

Usually, serious consequences after a horsefly attack do not occur, and the symptoms disappear after 2–4 days. But there are also exceptions. In addition to allergies caused by fly saliva, there may be:

• painful knots and bumps as a result of getting an infection with a bite;
• suppuration of soft tissues due to the penetration of a secondary infection when combing the wound;
• enlargement and inflammation of the lymph nodes against the background of infection of the lymph and blood.

All this threatens with the fact that the bite site can be very swollen, as well as the appearance of non-healing wounds, phlegmons and abscesses. Sometimes there is necrosis of the affected areas.

When attacked by this blood-sucking insect, the localization of the bite site is important. The closer the large blood vessels and nerve endings to it, the softer the skin, the more dangerous the consequences. However, an immediate threat to human life can arise only as a last resort, for example, when:

• multiple insect bites;
• the presence of allergies;
• accession of a secondary infection.

Horsefly Infections

Horseflies, like many blood-sucking parasitic insects, are capable of carrying pathogens of infectious diseases dangerous to human health and life, in particular:

• anthrax;
• tularemia;
• foot and mouth disease;
• bubonic plague, etc.

How to protect yourself from a gadfly in the country

To make the site unattractive for an insect, it is necessary to mow the weeds in time, not only near the house and in the yard, but also behind the fence. Open ventilated spaces are not to the liking of the parasite.

The gadfly reacts sensitively to odors associated with the life of a person or animal (feces, sweat). Therefore, latrines and heaps of manure are better to arrange away from housing, to spill them with special preparations that eliminate odors.

You can protect yourself from the gadfly with ordinary sticky tapes - flycatchers, hanging them near the house, in gazebos. Special bags are sold with bait for the destruction of horseflies and spiders, which are laid out in places where insects are likely to accumulate.

With a large number of gadflies, horseflies, mosquitoes and ticks on the site, it makes sense to contact special processing services. The territory is pollinated with special insect repellent preparations. Usually, one such procedure is enough for a season. But these methods cannot be called environmentally friendly, since strong toxic substances are used.

First aid if bitten by a horsefly

How to react to gadfly bites?

1. It is necessary to treat the affected area of ​​the body as soon as possible by washing it with clean water (maybe with soap). After all, it is worth remembering that these insects are carriers of infection (they do not shun corpses and feces).
2. You can then gently squeeze the liquid out of the bite site. This will help localize the spread of toxic saliva under the skin.
3. After removing the dirt, the wound must be treated:
   hydrogen peroxide solution;
4. Chlorhexidine;
5. potassium permanganate solution;
6. Streptocide;
7. tincture of propolis;
8. Furacilin;
9. vodka.
10. After processing, it is better to seal the bite with a plaster.
11. Regardless of whether the victim is allergic to insect bites, it is worth using an antihistamine that will help reduce swelling and stop itching:
    Cetrin;
12. Claritin;
13. Loratadine;
14. Suprastin;
15. Parlazin and others.
16. If there is severe pain, the use of analgesics will be very helpful. Recommended for use as an analgesic and antipyretic:
    Ibuprofen;
17. Paracetamol.
18. If a horsefly bite does not cause a deterioration in the general condition of the victim, then it is enough to use local remedies for the fastest healing of wounds for 2-3 days:
    Panthenol;
19. Fenistil gel;
20. Rescuer.

How to treat a gadfly bite

Treatment of a gadfly bite should begin as soon as the first signs appear - burning and itching.

Correctly provided first aid will not allow toxins to penetrate further into the subcutaneous layers, which means that skin allergies will be minimal.

Do not forget that horseflies sit on animal feces, and therefore can be carriers of the most dangerous diseases for humans. So, after a gadfly bite, you must:

1. rinse the wound abundantly with plain or soapy water;
2. after removing the dirt in the center of the bite, it is advisable to drip a few drops of pharmacy hydrogen peroxide or treat the wound around the periphery with brilliant green;
3. if there are multiple bites or an injured child, an anesthetic medication must be taken. Panadol and Nurofen have antipyretic and analgesic effects;
4. in nature, you can use the help of medicinal herbs.Anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect is possessed by juice from chamomile stem or plantain leaves. Squeeze the juice onto a clean swab and apply it to the bite site.

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The bite site must be observed throughout the day or more. If it is noticeable that the swelling from a gadfly bite is growing, the itching does not decrease, then it is advisable to take an antihistamine - Suprastin, Tavegil.

Antihistamine tablets are especially necessary for children, they relieve itching well, which excludes further skin infection.

How to treat a water bite in the following days? It is necessary to buy an anti-inflammatory and wound healing ointment - Panthenol, Rescuer. Well relieves swelling and burning Fenistil gel, Lorindent ointment.

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For information on how to remove lice and nits with vinegar, see here.

Description and photo

Outwardly, horsefly resembles a large fly, up to 3 cm in size, depending on the species. On the territory of Russia there are more than 200 species of them, in the world there are more than 350. It has two developed transparent smoky wings, a large head, a flattened abdomen, a hard proboscis with cutting and piercing stylets located in it. Horseflies have big beautiful eyes, they see the victim from afar.

Females are outwardly different from males: their eyes are set wider and they have mandibles, which males are deprived of.

Features of nutrition and reproduction

Only fertilized female insects feed on blood, they need blood for the development of eggs, unfertilized ones can feed on nectar. With one bite, a female horsefly can drink up to 0.188 ml of blood. This is enough for her for two days, then she must find the victim again. She needs a portion of blood to lay eggs. 3-4 days after consuming blood, the female lays up to 1000 eggs.

If she manages to bite someone else, the laying will be done again. So for season 1, a female with a sufficient amount of blood can lay up to 3500 eggs. They are deposited on moist leaves of plants, mainly near the water, and after a few weeks larvae appear from them, which create a cocoon and turn into pupae. After another 3 weeks, an adult insect emerges from the pupa.

The life cycle of a horsefly consists of 4 stages:

• egg,
• larva,
• doll,
• adult insect.

Lifestyle

Only female horseflies feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, while males of all kinds of horseflies consume flower nectar.

Unfertilized females also eat nectar, but after fertilization they become very aggressive, since they need animal blood for the development of eggs. With their proboscis they

cut through the skin and drink blood from the wound. Blindflies are attracted by the dark color, the smell of sweat, movement, but they prefer to attack the motionless victim. True, horseflies pursue a moving object for a very long time. Sometimes they make mistakes and follow a moving car or boat for a long time.

Since horsefly larvae develop in water or moist soil, these insects are especially often found near various bodies of water. Horseflies are most abundant in hot, sunny weather, with their peak in June-July.

Having sucked blood, females quickly digest it. After 48 hours, only the remnants of half-digested blood can be found in the intestines, and the maturing eggs greatly increase in size. Within three to four days after bloodsucking, the female lays 500-1000 eggs. As a result of repeated bloodsucking, females can carry out up to five such cycles, eventually laying over 3500 eggs!

Horseflies lay their eggs on coastal plants in rivers and lakes and in swamps. The larvae, emerging from the eggs, fall into the water or coastal moss and live in the water near the coast, in the upper layer of moist soil or in the moss cover.In some species of horseflies, the larvae feed on decaying plants, in others they are active predators and eat the larvae of other insects, amphipods or worms. Like all Diptera, these are insects with complete transformation, that is, they go through four stages of development: eggs, larvae, pupae and an adult (imago).