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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Tabanomorpha » Horse and Deer Flies (Tabanidae) » Horse Flies (Tabaninae) » Tabanini » Tabanus » Black Horse Fly (Tabanus atratus)
Photo#367846
Huge fly - Tabanus atratus - female
Copyright © 2010 Tim Lethbridge

Huge fly - Tabanus atratus - Female
Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida, USA
August 4, 2009
Size: 50mm, maybe more
This is the largest fly I have ever seen, I actually saw two of these at two different locations on the same day. I am guessing it is a horsefly of some sort. A handful of these things ought to be able to carry a horse as a "to-go" meal!
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Contributed by Tim Lethbridge on 28 January, 2010 - 9:55pm
Last updated 29 January, 2010 - 6:00am

Size is overestimated
Credible sources report a range of length for this species of 20-25 mm and a maximum for any species in the genus of 30 mm. See more in-depth discussion here.
… Ted C. MacRae, 20 August, 2024 - 12:24pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Flies.
… Tim Lethbridge, 29 January, 2010 - 6:00am login or register to post comments

Holy cow!
50mm?! As in 2 inches or more? That's enormous! Imagine one of those landing on your dinner, lol. I've always heard that Florida has big bugs, ahhhh! Thanks for the proof! :)
… Mandy Howe, 28 January, 2010 - 10:08pm login or register to post comments

 
They don't land on your dinner, they land on you.
Because as far as they're concerned, you are their dinner.
… Domingo Zungri, 29 January, 2010 - 8:09am login or register to post comments

 
Yikes
Are they blood suckers or meat chompers?
… Mandy Howe, 30 January, 2010 - 7:06pm login or register to post comments

 
They are bloodsuckers, and do feed on livestock.
Out west we have the similar, but not quite as gigantic, Tabanus punctifer:
… Domingo Zungri, 30 January, 2010 - 7:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Hmm
I'll have to go hang out with the neighbor's horses this summer and see if I see one. :)
… Mandy Howe, 30 January, 2010 - 8:10pm login or register to post comments

 
female Tabanus atratus

don't blame Florida -- this dinofly's range covers at least half the continent
… v belov, 28 January, 2010 - 10:16pm login or register to post comments

 
Yeah
I clicked on your thumbnail when you posted it and realized that they aren't only from Florida. I even read somewhere that we should have them in Washington state, too. I'm surprised that I haven't seen one myself, as I live in forested area that is surrounded by rural farmland. Do these flies feed on livestock?
… Mandy Howe, 30 January, 2010 - 7:20pm login or register to post comments

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