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This family
of small to large sized flies will be familiar to anyone who has
been walking through wetter habitats during the warmer months and
felt the sharp, piercing bite of these annoying insects. March or
horse flies have large distinctive, often iridescent eyes that always
meet in the middle of the head. It is the female flies that feed
on the blood of mammals, including humans. They pierce the skin
with their proboscis and suck up the blood as it flows out of the
wound. Males feed on nectar only. These flies are mainly found around
wetter areas as their predacious larvae are either aquatic or live
in damp or muddy habitats.
Scaptia guttata
can be found in the coastal forested areas of New South Wales, where
they can be seen resting on tree trunks and other vegetation.
For
more March fly or horse fly species visit the Australian
Insect Common
Names
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