Black Horse Fly
ExploreInsects
Black Horse Fly
tabanus atratus
The black horse fly (Tabanus atratus) is a large, striking insect native to North America, known for its formidable size and deep black coloration. While male black horse flies feed exclusively on plant nectar and pollen, females are infamous for their painful bites, which they use to obtain blood meals necessary for egg development. These powerful fliers are common sights around livestock, marshes, and damp pastures during the warmth of summer. Despite their intimidating presence and reputation as pests, they play a vital ecological role as pollinators and as a food source for various birds, frogs, and predatory insects.
Habitat: Typically found near wet environments such as marshes, swamps, and ponds, as well as open pastures and woodlands where livestock are present.
Appearance
The black horse fly is easily identified by its large size, typically measuring between 2.0 to 2.8 centimeters in length, and its entirely black or very dark brown body. Its large, broad wings are uniformly dark brown to black, and its massive compound eyes cover a significant portion of its head. In males, these eyes touch at the top of the head, whereas in females they are separated by a small gap. The stout body is covered in fine, dark hairs, giving it a matte or slightly velvety appearance.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyTabanidaeGenusTabanus
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Black horse flies are strongly attracted to dark, moving shapes and carbon dioxide, which is how they locate large mammalian hosts like horses and cattle.
Only female black horse flies bite; males lack the mouthparts required to pierce skin and feed solely on nectar and pollen.
Their larvae are highly predatory and possess sharp fangs with which they inject venom to paralyze small aquatic organisms and earthworms.
They are among the fastest flying insects, capable of reaching speeds that allow them to easily chase down running animals.
Special abilities
Ability
Razor-Sharp Mouthparts
Females possess scissor-like mandibles that slice open the skin of hosts to lap up blood, rather than piercing like mosquitoes.
Ability
High-Speed Flight
They are exceptionally fast and agile fliers, capable of keeping pace with running mammals to secure a blood meal.
Ability
Polarized Light Navigation
They use specialized vision to detect polarized light, helping them locate water bodies for egg-laying and navigate their environment.
Measurements & details
- Clutch Size
- 100+
Diet & Feeding
Adult males feed strictly on plant juices and nectar, whereas females require mammalian blood meals to develop their eggs; larvae are voracious predators of aquatic invertebrates.
Primary Foods
- Mammalian blood
- Flower nectar
- Plant sap
- Aquatic insects
- Earthworms
Foraging Method
- Pursuit22019970929281313171815161720232426272528303332353134363738404245414443464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250
Ecological connections
Hunts
Domestic Cattle
Bos taurus
Female flies bite and feed on the blood of livestock for reproductive nourishment.
Eaten by
Common Green Darner
Anax junius
Adult horse flies are captured on the wing and consumed by large dragonflies.
Eaten by
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
The larvae and occasionally adults of the fly are eaten by shorebirds foraging in muddy habitats.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Collections for this object will appear here as more themes are added.
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Black Horse Fly?
Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.
What does Black Horse Fly eat?
Adult males feed strictly on plant juices and nectar, whereas females require mammalian blood meals to develop their eggs; larvae are voracious predators of aquatic invertebrates.
Where is Black Horse Fly usually found?
Typically found near wet environments such as marshes, swamps, and ponds, as well as open pastures and woodlands where livestock are present.
How does Black Horse Fly hunt?
Pursuit22019970929281313171815161720232426272528303332353134363738404245414443464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250
How many eggs does Black Horse Fly lay?
100+
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
Where to spot
Take the discovery with you
Found Black Horse Fly?
Snap it with Snappit to identify it, learn what makes it special, and add the discovery to your collection.
- 1Spot it
- 2Snap it
- 3Keep the discovery
