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Horse-fly on me


Horse-fly on me
Photo Information
Copyright: Enio Branco (Brutamonte) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 14 W: 0 N: 63] (769)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-30
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony W50
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-19 0:18
Viewed: 1200
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Portuguese]
Scientific classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tabanidae
Subfamily: Tabaninae
Genus: Tabanus
Species: T. bovinus

Tabanus bovinus is a species of biting horseflies. As the name suggests, it prefers bovine animals as the source of blood, although it may bite other kind of mammals as well. The insect is relatively large for a horsefly, adults usually being 25–30 mm long. Like most other horseflies, its compound eyes are very colorful with stripe-like patterns. Its body and wings are mostly colored brownish gray. It is quite fast and able flier, being capable of evading most attempts to swat it with ease. It bites humans infrequently, because of its preference of bovine animals. This loud-buzzing horsefly can be a nuisance, as it circles around its target and occasionally lands to deliver a bite (in the case of humans, the fly usually takes off again instead). However, to humans it is considerably less harmful than deer flies (Chrysops), which bite much more vigorously.
There are no commercially available insect repellents that fully work against this horsefly, however it usually avoids smoke and exhaust gases. Weather has a great effect on the horseflies' behavior, as they only fly on sunny and hot weather.

See more in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabanus_bovinus
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Brutamonte,
I know from first hand experience what these horrible insects can do as I have a scar from one of their nasty bites on my right arm to remind me.I have been stung by hornets,bees and wasps but these were nothing compared to the horsefly.Don't get me wrong as I do not want to see them exterminated to extinction,but a useful repellent would be nice.About your picture-you have excellent details,great colour and fine focus working for you and so thanks for adding it to the TN family of photos. Bob

  • Great 
  • Dyker Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 141 W: 0 N: 59] (170)
  • [2007-05-19 6:44]

Hello Brutamonte
It is clear that this insect preferred to "bite other kind of mammals" as well, as your notes suggest. It seems like you and I were willingly offering our blood for the sake of TrekNatue as you can see on my similar posting called Horse fly ATTACK. You have taken this photo with lovely clear focus and good colour definition. The composition also looks good.
Greetings
AC

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