CLOSED: CLOSED: Flesh Fly?

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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Jul 13, 2010

This was the biggest fly I have ever seen. Is it a flesh fly? Does it bite?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 13, 2010

Not a flesh fly (although it could remove some!) - it is a horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae) in the genus Tabanus. If the body length is more than 7/8", it just about has to be Tabanus americanus, the largest member of this family in North America - see http://tinyurl.com/29wpw2s for an image.

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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Jul 14, 2010

Is this the same species that infest marshlands (Greenheads)? I seem to remember those as being smaller than this.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 14, 2010

This is a good example as to why Latin (as opposed to common/colloquial) names are preferable when identifying species. There are several species of horseflies that at one time or another have been referred to as greenheads - here's one of the commonest: http://tinyurl.com/22q5xn8

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neefman East Bridgewater, MA Jul 16, 2010

You are right suunto (and thanks for the link and ID).

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