Page 118 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

HORSE FLY - ADULT HORSE FLY

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- 2 small 6.Thorax HORSE FLY
2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- none
3.Head- piercing mouthparts 8.Abdomen 2 6
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- gray to black 1
5.Wings- one pair 10.Other- only female bites 5
Life Cycle
From 100-800 eggs are deposited on objects near water. They 8
hatch in a week or less, and the larvae live in water or mud, feed- 3
ing on organic matter. They go above the water level to pupate. It
generally takes one year per generation. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

HORSE FLY
Actual size 3/4”
Horse flies are large, about ¾ inch in body size. They are generally black, with large eyes. They
breed near water, laying eggs in trees, tules and bullrushes, grasses, and other vegetation near
their favorite water areas. Larvae bite other creatures found in water such as snails, and kill
them with a venomous bite. They can be quite large and worm-like, up to 1 7/8 inches long. As
with mosquitoes, only the female bites, and it can be painful. They prefer horses (obviously) and
cattle, but will readily bite humans. The males make a meal from plant nectars and fluids, as do
females on occasion.

1.Antenna- short 6.Thorax HAIRY MAGGOT
2.Eyes- compound 7.Petiole- none BLOW FLY
3.Head 8.Abdomen
4.Legs- 6 9.Color- metallic blue-green 2
5.Wings- one pair 10.Other- larvae have hair-like tubercles

Life Cycle 1 5
Each female lays between 50 to 200 eggs in a loose mass. With many females
present on a decomposing carcass, thousands of eggs may be laid at one time.
They can hatch in as few as eight hours if the temperature is warm. The larvae 4
feed on the carcass until they are ready to pupate. At this point they migrate to
loose soil, under leaf mulch, or under rocks or other debris. The pupal cell looks
like a rat dropping. In 7-12 days, the adults emerge. They can live up to six weeks.
Drawing by Andrew Schaible

HAIRY MAGGOT BLOW FLY
Actual size 3/8”
The Hairy Maggot Blow Fly is also known as a type of Bottle Fly. These flies seem to follow
the habitat of mankind throughout the world, and this one is currently expanding its territory
in the United States after first being found here in 1980. The maggots have tubercles which
look like hairs, giving it the name. They are found on and around dead bodies of animals and
humans. The adults have a brilliant metallic blue-green coloring.

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