Tabanus sudeticus explained

Tabanus sudeticus, also known as the dark giant horsefly, is a species of biting horse-fly.^{[1] [2]} It is the heaviest fly in Europe.^[3]

Description

The dark giant horsefly's length is around 20-25 millimeters.^[4] They have uniform dark brown eyes.

Dark giant horseflies are a common species to be found buzzing around cows and horses. They usually only suck blood from those horses and cows, avoiding humans. They fly with a very loud buzzing.^[5]

Distribution

Tabanus sudeticus is found in many countries of Western Europe. It has a marked northern and western distribution; being found as far north as southern Norway and the Western Isles of Scotland, and with an occasional record from Belarus.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Moucha . J. . Horse-flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of the World. Synoptic Catalogue. . Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae Supplements . 1976 . 7 . 1–320 . 11 September 2022.
2. Book: Stubbs, A. . Drake, M. . amp . 2001 . British Soldierflies and Their Allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera. 512 pp. British Entomological & Natural History Society . 1-899935-04-5.
3. Web site: Check out this massive fly . Naturenet . 7 June 2009 . 25 August 2020.
4. Web site: THES . MoveCMS by . Dark giant horsefly Animal Life Habitats . 2022-09-17 . www.lifehabitats.com . en.
5. Book: Chvála . Milan . Lyneborg . Leif . Moucha . Josef . The Horse Flies of Europe (Diptera, Tabanidae) . 1972 . Entomological Society of Copenhagen . Copenhagen . 978-09-00-84857-5 . 598pp, 164figs.
6. Web site: Dark Giant Horse Fly Tabanus sudeticus. iNaturalist. 10 June 2020.