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Splayed deer fly

Chrysops caecutiens

Photo by Tiz
Published on Project Noah
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62.782, 17.9583

Field Notes

Description:

Chrysops caecutiens reaches a length of about 8.5–10 millimetres and this fly bites. Before the bite it enjoys to fly around the targets head so they are really irritating!

Habitat:

Very common in the part of Sweden when the photos was taken. This was spotted on an island near the river mouth to the baltic sea.
Woodlands and deforestation areas.

Notes:

The larvae of the splayed deer fly feed upon algae and organic matter in damp muddy soils. The adult female flies feed on mammalia blood, in order for their eggs to mature properly. When they bite, they inject saliva with an anti-coagulating agent that prevent the blood clotting. The structure of the ommatidia in the midregion of the eyes of the females of these bloodsucking flies could subserve high polarization assisting in host-finding. Adult males and females feed also on nectar and pollen of flowers. (Leucanthemum vulgare Nectar, Pollen)

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