March Flies, Horse Flies - Family Tabanidae
This page contains pictures and information about March Flies that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Body length 10mm
- March Flies are from small to large in size. They have large eyes with reflective iridescent colour. Their wings always have the 'Y' shaped veins at the tip. Usually there are the dense short hairs on their body. Their mouth is the strong straight proboscis for piercing and sucking.
- All male March Flies feed on nectar. Some species of female feed on blood, they target on horse, cattle and humans.
- March Fly larvae of most species live in fresh water, damp soil or rotting plants. The larvae are carnivorous, preying on insects and snails.
- Common March Fly
- ? sp., body length 10mm
- This March Fly is common in Brisbane bushes.. March Flies are sometimes known as Green Heads. This March Fly landed on our body a few time. Some species of female feed on blood and targeting human. This fly might not do any good to us. We always drove them away as soon as possible. Please also check this page for more information.
- Flower-feeding March Fly
- Scaptia auriflua, subfamily Pangoniinae, body length 10mm
- Most other female March Flies are blood sucker but this fly is flower feeder. Both male and female of this species feed on nectars only. The fly covered with dense hair and mimic a bee. They will buzz like a bee to try to scare you away. Picture taken in Yugarapul Park during early summer. There are many of them in the same area near the Bulimba Creek. Note the piercing mouthparts in front of the eyes. More information and pictures please visit this page.
- Reference:
- 1. Insects of Australia - CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p754.
- 2. Insects of Australia and New Zealand - R. J. Tillyard, Angus & Robertson, Ltd, Sydney, 1926, p358.
