Appearance
The adult females grow up to 12 millimetres (0.47 in) long and can be encountered during the daylight hours from late May through late August.The large compound eyes necessary for locating their preys are brightly colored. The thorax is grey, with black longitudinal stripes. The abdomen has clearer bands at the end of each black segment. Also the wings have a distinctive pattern, being dark mottled by several clear spots. The legs are black, with yellowish-brown rings. It is similar to the also common ''Haematopota crassicornis'', but differs from that species in the orange third antennae segment and the overall brown colouration compared to the often grey tinge of ''crassicornis''.
Distribution
This species is present in most of Europe, in the Near East and in eastern Palearctic ecozone.
Food
The females feed on mammal blood (hematophagy) (hence the Latin name Haematopota pluvialis, literally meaning 'blooddrinker of the rains'), needing blood for developing eggs. When they bite they inject fluids inhibiting the coagulation of blood, which flows out in such a way that allows the horsefly to lap it. They are also able to bite people painfully.References:
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