Blood-thirsty flies

Horseflies are some of the most unpopular insects in Denmark. They are large, powerfully built flies often found in damp places. The problem with them is that the females suck blood – they need the energy to produce their eggs – and it hurts when a horsefly sucks blood. The female horsefly’s mouthparts aren’t delicately formed surgical instruments, like, for example, a mosquito’s, which you often don’t even notice when it bites. A horsefly’s beak is short, strong and pointy and looks a lot like an awl.

Horseflies are lightning-fast. They land on your arm or leg and immediately stab with their beak, so the blood starts to flow, and they can suck it up. It all happens very fast, and it has to, because horseflies usually only have a few seconds before they are swatted away.

If you dare – and can find some male horseflies - it’s worth sneaking up on a horsefly, if you see one sitting still, catching some sunshine on a leaf or a flower, for example. Horseflies have the most fantastic eyes , with all different kinds of stripes. You can actually identify many species by the patterns in their eyes, though scientists have yet to discover the purpose of the stripes.