# Stable Fly (*Stomoxys calcitrans*) Stable flies are pesky little insects that look like house flies but have a painful bite! They love to hang around farms and grassy areas, especially where animals are. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Stable Fly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Stomoxys_calcitrans_on_aloe_vera.jpg&width=800) Photo: User:Fir0002, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stomoxys_calcitrans_on_aloe_vera.jpg) ## Appearance The Stable Fly is a medium-sized, grayish-brown fly with four dark stripes on its thorax and a distinct checkerboard pattern on its abdomen. It has a stiff, bayonet-like proboscis that juts forward, making it visually different from the similar-looking house fly. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Muscidae - **Genus:** Stomoxys ## Interesting facts - Both male and female stable flies must drink blood to survive and lay eggs! - Stable flies are strong flyers, able to travel miles to find a meal. - Their bites can be quite painful, much more than a mosquito's nip! - They like to bite animals on their legs and bellies, even humans! ## Special abilities - **Piercing Proboscis:** Stable Fly can pierce tough animal skin because it has a sharp, needle-like mouthpart that helps them drink blood. - **Agile Aerialist:** Stable Fly can dodge predators with swift, erratic flight patterns, making it very hard for birds to catch them. - **Rapid Reproduction:** Stable Fly can multiply quickly because females lay hundreds of eggs that hatch in days, ensuring many new flies. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 10-14 mm - **Size:** 5-7 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These flies drink blood from warm-blooded animals, needing it to live and lay eggs. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat decaying plant matter, but adults feed exclusively on blood. - **Primary Foods:** Cattle blood, Horse blood, Human blood, Dog blood, Bird blood - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Feeds on their blood, causing irritation and stress. - **Depends on:** [Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse) (*Equus caballus*) — Feeds on their blood, causing discomfort and potential disease. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Vampiric](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/vampiric): Vampiric organisms are those that obtain nutrients by feeding on the blood or bodily fluids of other animals. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a stable fly, try not to swat at it. Move away gently to avoid getting bitten. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Stable 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 is Stable Fly's wingspan? 10-14 mm ### How big is Stable Fly? 5-7 mm ### How long does Stable Fly live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Stable Fly fly? 8 km/h ### What does Stable Fly eat? These flies drink blood from warm-blooded animals, needing it to live and lay eggs. ### Where is Stable Fly usually found? Grasslands ### How does Stable Fly hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Charlotte Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlotte-street-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Century of Progress Architectural District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/century-of-progress-architectural-district) — Indiana, US · Historic District ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Stable Fly: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stable-fly)