Tabanus chrysurus is a big orange-and-black horse fly from Japan and Korea, about 1 in (2–3 cm) long, and is often mistaken for a hornet. It isn't found in the US. Like other horse flies, only the females bite, taking blood from cattle, horses, and people.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Black with pale stripes, and a black abdomen with orange bands on each segment. Orange-red antennae and large eyes.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- hills and mountains
- stream valleys
- pastures
- Range
- Japan (Hokkaido to Kyushu) and Korea. It isn't found in North America.
- Preferred conditions
- Larvae grow in wet ground along forest streams.
Behavior
- Diet
- Females drink blood to get protein for their eggs; males feed on flower nectar and tree sap.
- Activity
- Active in daytime, flying with a loud buzz and circling people and livestock. In Japan, adults fly from June to August.
Life cycle
- Larva
- Larvae live in damp soil beside mountain streams.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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