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| This deer has at least 3 deer flies on its nose plus a couple more hovering nearby. I was not spared either despite being doused with Deep Woods Off and wearing long sleeves and a flap hat. The flies bite through everything but denim. Wekiva River, June 2020. |
June in Florida finds hikers and wildlife alike terrorized by biting flies. Insect repellants are of little use against Florida's largest biting flies; Horse flies, deer flies, and the fierce yellow fly.
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| The fierce Florida Yellow Fly, Diachlorus ferrugatus |
Horse flies are in the genus Tabanus and deer flies are in the Genus Chrysops. The yellow fly, Diachlorus ferrugatus, is also known in Florida for its fierce bite. Males of these species are mainly pollen and nectar feeders while the females seek out blood meals. You're most likely to encounter Tabanids in hot summer and early fall, during daylight hours.
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| Hiking the Florida Trail in the Seminole State Forest I stopped and kneeled to get a close up of these Yellow Milkwort (Polygala rugelii). It cost me several bites across my shoulders. |
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| Leaning forward to get this close up earned me a few more bites through my flap hat in the back of my head. Likely culprit? Deer flies or Yellow flies. Polygala rugelii (Florida Yellow Milkwort also known as Yellow Bachelor's Button) |
Horse and Deer flies are closely related insects with similar life cycles. Both horse and deer flies are strong fliers and only the female bites. They are daytime feeders and can easily cut the skin open for a blood meal. While feeding an anticoagulant is injected into the wound and causes the blood to flow freely. Many people are allergic to horse fly and deer fly bites. Also, wounds are excellent sites for secondary infection. Since they are intermittent feeders, horse and deer flies are important transmitters of animal diseases.
How many types of Horse and Deer Flies Are There?
Horse and deer flies are "true" flies in the insect Order Diptera, and comprise the Family Tabanidae known as "tabanid flies" or simply as "tabanids." There are an estimated 4,300 species of horse and deer flies in the world, approximately 335 of which occur in the continental USA. Of these, over 160 species are horse flies, and over 110 species are deer flies. In Florida there are 35 species of Tabanids that are considered economically important (and thus studied).
How Can I Recognize a Horse or Deer Fly?
Adult horse and deer flies are relatively large to very large (approximately 0.25 to 1.25 inches long), robust flies with a pair of huge eyes known as "compound eyes." Those of some horse flies have colorful purple or green bands against a blue or yellowish-green background. The mouthparts are large and prominent, projecting downward and forward in front of the head. They have large, fan-shaped wings and are capable of rapid flight and flying long distances.
Feeding Behavior of Horse, Deer and Yellow Flies in Florida
Only the female of these species will take a blood meal, and, with rare exception, they feed during daytime. They are most active a couple hours after sunrise and a couple hours before sunset. Unlike numerous other groups of blood sucking flies, female horse and deer flies do not enter structures and thus do not need to feed on humans indoors. Female horse flies feed primarily on large mammals, including stationary hosts, and they typically bite the legs and body, rarely on the head. Although there are species of horse flies that feed on humans they are the least bothersome of the three predominant biting flies in Florida. In contrast to horse flies, female deer flies typically feed on moving hosts and usually bite on the shoulders and head. They have a wide host range, attacking mammals of all sizes, including humans, and some species even feed on birds and reptiles. Females of both horse and deer flies are aggressive, persistent feeders that quickly return to bite again if they are interrupted b efore they complete their blood meal.
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| Deer flies are in the genus Chrysops. Horse flies are in the genus Tabanus |
Most species of horse and deer flies are aquatic or semi-aquatic in the immature stages. Some will also develop in moist earth, leaf mold, or rotting logs. Generally the eggs are deposited in layers on vegetation, objects over water, or moist areas favorable for larval development. The eggs hatch in five to seven days and the larvae fall to the water surface or moist areas where they begin to feed on organic matter.
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| Deer Fly Close Up |
Many species feed on insect larva, crustacea, snails, and earthworms. When the larvae are ready to pupate, they move into drier earth usually an inch or two below the soil surface. The pupal stage lasts two to three weeks, after which the adults emerge. The life cycle varies considerably within the species, requiring anywhere from 70 days to two years.
The best advice is to limit outdoor activities in wetland areas (pretty much anywhere in Florida) near dawn and near dusk. Otherwise wear long sleeved denim shirts and pants and a thick material flap hat in areas where biting flies are numerous. Insect repellants are useless against these endemic insects.
If its less common black flies or sand flies follow the mitigation steps offered below including covering yourself with some sort of insecticide.
Traps have been used with limited results in some parts of Florida. Traps usually include a large moving black ball covered with a sticky substance. The insects look for movement of large objects (mammals) and do not necessarily sense the heat coming from mammals.
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| Deer Fly Ball Traps can be found around Florida Do not count on them to protect you from biting flies, there are always some flies that miss the trap and find your neck or shoulders. |
Other Biting Flies of Florida
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| Florida Sand Fly looks a lot like a mosquito Photo: Jerry Butler, University of Florida |
1. Sand fly (Culicoides).
Sand Flies, often called "punkies," "no-see'ums," or biting midges are vicious where they occur. They are often more troublesome than mosquitoes because they can easily enter dwellings through ordinary 16-mesh window screen. The presence of these insects can decrease property values and severely hamper use of recreational areas. Vacationers and campers literally have been driven away from areas by these tiny biters. Sand flies can also cause loss to cattlemen in terms of annoyance to cattle and transmission of various nematode diseases.
Oroya Fever; Sand Fly Fever
At least 60 species in the Old World genus Phlebotomus or New World genus Lutzomyia are vectors of several vertebrate pathogens, including a group of parasitic flagellate protozoa, Leishmania spp., which may cause cutaneous, visceral or muco-cutaneous Leishmaniasis; the bacterium Bartonella bacilliformis causing Oroya fever; and several arboviruses causing sand fly fever and vesicular stomatitis.
Sand flies are members of the insect order Diptera and undergo a complete development with egg, larva, pupa, and adult forms. The adults are less than 1/16 inch long, dark gray to black in color and have one pair of wings which are spotted. The sand flies breed predominantly in salt marshes; however, some species that are found inland breed in fresh water areas and tree holes.
Larvae of sand flies are found in mud, sand, and debris around the edges of ponds, springs, lakes, creeks, and in tree holes or on slime-covered bark. In the water they are free swimmers and are commonly found on floating twigs or leaf trash. The larvae pupate on floating debris or at the water's edge. The adult females, like mosquitoes, require blood to mature the eggs. Males do not bite. Sand fly larvae can be found in marshes the year-round; however, the period of greatest adult activity is June to August.
Sand fly activity is associated with air movement. Adults of most species seldom bite when there is air movement. Sand flies are also sensitive to temperature. Animals having a high body temperature are attractive to great numbers of female sand flies. Persons performing hard labor out-of-doors frequently are severely annoyed by these insects.
Sand Fly Mitigation
If you encounter sand flies. The best advice is to flee. If you find yourself naked and afraid, I'd cover myself in mud and sabal palmettos to try and keep the sand flies from reaching my skin. Even burying oneself in the sand might be effective though there might be other critters in the sand.
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| Florida Buffalo Gnat (Black Fly) Simulium slossonae Photo: JF Butler, University of Florida |
Black flies are small, dark, stout-bodied flies with a humpbacked appearance. The adult females suck blood mainly during daylight hours and are not host specific. The black fly is a potential disease vector in Florida. It hovers about the eyes, ears, and nostrils of man and animals, often alighting and puncturing the skin with an irritating bite. Black flies are not considered to be major pests of homeowners in Florida.
The black fly life cycle begins with eggs being deposited on logs, rocks, or solid surfaces in swiftly flowing streams. Larvae attach themselves to rocks or vegetation with a posterior sucker. The length of the larval period is quite variable depending on the species and the larval environment. The adults which emerge after pupation are strong fliers and may fly 7 to 10 miles from their breeding sites.
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| Florida Stable Fly, Stomoxys calcitrans Note the characteristic spots on the insect's abdomen. Photo: Lyle Buss, University of Florida |
3. Stable Fly (Biting House Fly; Stomoxys c.)
Ever spend an afternoon at Gulf Islands National Seashore between Navarre and Pensacola Beach and you've experienced way, way more of Florida's Stable Fly than you ever wanted to. If the wind is blowing from the north it is impossible to enjoy the beaches of northwest Florida because of these flies. They are relentless, aggressive pests.
The stable fly, also known as the 'dog fly' or 'biting house fly,' is a blood-sucking fly which closely resembles the house fly. It is similar to the house fly in size and color, but may be recognized by its sharp, piercing mouthparts which project forward from the head. Unlike many flies, both sexes of the stable fly are vicious biters.
The fly is a common pest of man and animals throughout the world. In Florida—especially western Florida—stable flies are a serious pest of man and have been a severe threat to the tourist industry.
Stable flies are very persistent when searching for a blood meal and may be easily interrupted in feeding. They may be mechanical vectors of animal diseases but are not considered effective in spreading human disease.
Stable flies breed in soggy hay, grain or feed, piles of moist fermenting weed or grass clippings, seaweed deposits along beaches, and manure. When depositing eggs, the female will often crawl into loose material, placing the eggs in little inner pockets. Each female may lay a total of 500 to 600 eggs in four separate layings. The eggs will hatch in 2 or 5 days, and the newly hatched larvae bury themselves, begin to feed, and mature in 14 to 26 days. While the average life cycle is 28 days, this period will vary from 22 to 58 days, depending on weather conditions. The adults are strong fliers and range many miles from the breeding sites.
Alban is famous in France for decade-long role in 'T.A.N.K.' and lately for his gay-friendly Instagram.
Jason Statham Made in France
Lost Bullet's Alban Lenoir
Alban Lenoir exploded on American screens this week on Netflix as his French film Balle Perdu was re-released as a Netflix film called 'Lost Bullet.' Viewers couldn't help but notice the similarities to a Jason Statham with the non-stop action and physical similarities between the actors.
The movie is jam packed with action, so much so you'll barely notice that all the dialog is in French. I quit reading the subtitles early on and just enjoyed the French I understood from college and the twists and turns of this thriller action flick that conjured so many Jason Statham films before it.
For the record Alban is a bit taller than Statham (a reported 6-feet, 1.82m). . . and younger; 40. Statham is probably not 5' 8" (though he claims 5' 10"; 1.78m) and he is 53 years old.
The movie is jam packed with action, so much so you'll barely notice that all the dialog is in French. I quit reading the subtitles early on and just enjoyed the French I understood from college and the twists and turns of this thriller action flick that conjured so many Jason Statham films before it.
For the record Alban is a bit taller than Statham (a reported 6-feet, 1.82m). . . and younger; 40. Statham is probably not 5' 8" (though he claims 5' 10"; 1.78m) and he is 53 years old.
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| The Shiny Shrimps |
You can also find Alban in 'The Shiny Shrimps' a delightful water polo movie. What? Yes. Water polo. No one expects to cry during a movie about water polo. But such is the strange, galvanising spirit of 'The Shiny Shrimps,' which remolds the underdog sports movie into a celebration of solidarity with the LGBT+ community.
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