Striped Horse Fly / Tabanid Fly

Moist, wooded areas, pastures, near bodies of water like marshes, lakes, and streams

Adult females feed on the blood of mammals including horses, cattle, and humans; adult males and females also feed on nectar and plant juices

Females require a blood meal to develop eggs and use scissor-like mouthparts to cut skin. They are fast, strong fliers and are attracted to movement, dark colors, and carbon dioxide during sunny, daylight hours.

Delivers a painful bite to humans and animals due to slicing mouthparts; can transmit pathogens/parasites to livestock and cause stress/blood loss; larvae act as aquatic/semi-aquatic predators of small invertebrates.