Striped Horsefly

Description:

This horse fly is approximately 1/2 inch in length. It is light brown overall with whitish stripes on the abdomen and thorax. The thorax is covered in thick, short brown hair. Legs are two-toned light with dark tibia and tarsi. The male, (not shown) has very large eyes that touch at the top of the head. The female, shown in photos, have colorful eyes that don't touch at the top of the head. Only the females in this family bite. Males are rarely encountered but when they are they are usually found on flowers taking nectar.

Habitat:

This horse fly is considered common in forest and near woods.

Notes:

Tabanid flies, typically, lay eggs on vegetation overhanging water or wet soil. The larvae are entirely predacious, and often cannibalistic, and have mandibles that work parallel to one another in the vertical plane like fangs.