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Photo#123137
Blood Sucking Fly - female

Blood Sucking Fly - Female
47.630283N 52.687280W (WGS84), Logy Bay, Northeast Avalon, Newfoundland/Labrador, Canada
June 30, 2007
Size: 4mm Estimated
This fly landed on my left hand while I was taking some 'free hand' macros (no tripod). I decided to try and take some one-handed photos of it and these are the results. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that it was going to suck my blood when I started the process. This photo was actually the last one taken in this sequence. I'm not sure but it looked to me as I looked through the viewfinder that the fly's body was getting redder as it drank more of my blood. Is it possible that the reddish cast is my blood showing through the fly's body rather than just a reflection off my hand? Also, I'm curious about the bubble that appeared at the posterior end of the fly as it was finishing its 'meal'. I hope it didn't both eat my blood and then 'relieve' itself on me too! Image number 040611 is a similar angle view of the fly before the bubble developed. BTW, do all flies drink blood if given the chance? Hoping for an ID of course.

Images of this individual: tag all
Blood Sucking Fly - female Blood Sucking Fly - female Blood Sucking Fly - female

Simuliidae
A real blackfly. Your other "blackfly" is a chloropid - the antennae are completely different and they are in two very different suborders of Diptera.

 
Thanks
Thank you Donald. The cloropid that I mistakenly thought was a blackfly was blacker than this real blackfly. Interesting. Thanks for the ID.

Black fly maybe?
Which is just a common name for a bunch of species (families even?). I'm not sure. But I am pretty sure that the bubble is the liquid from your blood being excreted by the fly. I believe they are "reducing ballast" so they can fly more efficiently. That's just an educated guess. I'm sure one of the fly experts will get you a MUCH better ID.

 
Thanks
Thank you, Nick. The Terrestrial Arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador lists 25 species of Simuliidae that are known to live in this province, so I guess you're right about there being "a bunch" of them.  Thanks also for the explanation of the "bubble". I kind of thought it might be excrement of some sort but I hadn't been thinking in terms of water extracted from my blood. Ykes!

 
aftermath
what was the result of it drinking ur blood? did it leave an ichy welp? and where u able to feel it bite you? Resintly I've been having a blood sucking bug problem, the problem being I can't find the flippin bug. I've identified only the fly in my room, and after reading this it seems the most likely suspect. If you would be so kind as to answer these questions it'd help me alot, thanks.

 
This was 4 years ago...
so it's hard to remember exactly what happened with this particular fly. In general, black flies create a little bump on my skin and they itch a little bit. It's not a big deal though. We have lots of these things here so I get bit a lot. That's about all I can think of to tell you.

 
Blood sucking fly in PA 15340
Never in mind did I think I would cross paths with a blood sucking fly,these creatures are the most vile insects.Yesterday I went outside to let my dog in,he ran inside and I noticed a fly on his nose.I thought it was a sweat bee and I thought it was dead.I grabbed a naptkin to grab it and it flew on my counter top where I smashed it.To my suprise the naptkin was a puddle of red blood (alot)This fly looks like a large sweat bee and hovers in place as such.Now where my 2 dogs are tied outside these flys hover and wait I sprayed them with hornet killer and it didnt work,if anyone is interested in catching these insects or wants me to catch them call my home phone at 724 356 6222 ask for Tony.I really just want these things to go away but they are waiting outside almost like killer bees protecting this tree