David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
______________________________________________________________________________________________ Flies 12 – Band-eyed
Brown Horseflies
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus bromius (m)
BAND-EYED BROWN HORSEFLY Tabanus
bromius
(m)
·
The
images above illustrate a male Band-eyed Brown Horsefly Tabanus
bromius sunbathing on a wooden gate in Surrey.
Males (note the touching compound eyes associated with the gender) can be
separated from similar species if examined under magnification or from sharp
photographs as the facets on the upper surfaces of their compound eyes are all
of a similar size whereas those of the otherwise very similar flies grade to a
smaller size towards the rear. Some also possess very distinctive markings on
their compound eyes that may be useful for identification purposes, including
the colourful and rather beautiful rainbow-like bands visible from certain
angles on the eyes of this species. Beware the optical illusion in which the
facets shown in the images above might appear to show gradation. When examined
at a larger magnification they are clearly of similar dimensions. Female Tabanus spp. of a similar size cannot be separated
easily - unless, of course, they are in the company of males and actively
pairing. Approximately 7,000 fly species have been recorded in the UK,
representing almost a third of the British insect fauna. Of these about thirty
species are classified as horseflies so the reputation that these flies have
for biting humans means that they are rather better known (in general terms)
than some of the larger or more prolific groups. In fact only the females bite as
a meal of blood is required in order to enable their ova to mature prior to
laying, most (but certainly not all!) are more interested in other host species,
mainly domesticated farm animals, than they are in people, and there is
probably just one species, the Cleg Haematopus
pluvialis, that really causes much of a
nuisance in the UK. The author can testify to this as he reacts to their bites –
these cause significant swelling and elbows seem to be favoured, possibly a
good reason for keeping them covered if frequenting an area inhabited by these
flies! Most British horsefly species are in decline, almost certainly in
consequence of the chemical barrage that has been inflicted on the countryside.
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