Hey Bob, I think you have the wrong fly mate. We are that close to February they are more than likely February, early arrivals, flies. March flies don't arrive till March.

Well someone was bound to come along with that info and me being silly enough, why not me.

MARCH FLY: (aka Horse Fly)

Biting flies are distributed throughout the world and, apart from nuisance biting, some are responsible for the transmission of diseases in humans and livestock in many countries. Although Australian biting flies (other than the mosquitoes) do not transmit diseases to humans they are renowned for painful bites and annoying habits during the summer months in general.

Within Australia, the biting flies of greatest significance are the horse flies or March flies (Family Tabanidae), the stable flies (Family Muscidae) and the black flies (Family Simuliidae), Compared with some other countries, black flies are usually not a concern in Australia although occasional problems occur following floods in northwestern NSW and Queensland.

March flies and stable flies are widespread throughout the warmer parts of Australia and will attack humans, livestock and domestic pets to acquire blood. The flies are stoutly built and are strong swift fliers that tend to be more active throughout the summer months especially in still, open sunny areas. The Tabanids, especially, are influenced by weather and will respond to changes in barometric pressure, wind, cloud cover and temperature.

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans is a vicious biter with piercing and sucking mouthparts that can easily penetrate socks and stockings. Both sexes of this fly will search for blood meals, often twice a day, and can engorge on blood up to three times their own body weight. In the cooler months their life span is 1-2 months, in warmer weather it is reduced to 3-4 weeks of adult life. These flies are seldom found in urban situations (except where horse stables or major composting areas are nearby) and are more often associated with rural properties and domestic animals; they are also common on some beaches where they breed in sea-weed. They have been known to enter homes and other buildings to blood feed during daylight hours.

March flies (Tabanids) have two large prominent eyes and are much larger and robust than stable flies; they have a shorter life than stable flies and an adult lives only 3-4 weeks. Although they are a major pest of livestock, several species will bite people. It is only the females that seek blood meals; the males feed on nectar and plant juices. Female tabanids are armed with two large blade-like mouthparts, that are used to pierce and slash skin. This inflicts a painful wound and produces a large puncture site that will continue to ooze blood long after the mouthparts are extracted. As the blood flows, the flies lap the blood to engorgement, unless disturbed. It has been estimated that some animals can loose up to 300ml of blood a day due to attack by these flies, resulting in serious blood loss. Adult tabanids are cosmopolitan but are more abundant in moist forests and woodlands. After mating, the females disperse, travelling many kilometres in search of blood meals. Tabanids are pests throughout summer and are a continual nuisance at outdoor activities, particularly near water.

HI,

Thanks for that interesting information Possom3.

Cheers Al

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

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In North Qld, they are referred to as MarSh Flies - perhaps that will help Doug out with his humour!

 

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 Not so: MARCH FLY: (aka Horse Fly)

Biting flies are distributed throughout the world and, apart from nuisance biting, some are responsible for the transmission of diseases in humans and livestock in many countries. Although Australian biting flies (other than the mosquitoes) do not transmit diseases to humans they are renowned for painful bites and annoying habits during the summer months in general.

Within Australia, the biting flies of greatest significance are the horse flies or March flies (Family Tabanidae), the stable flies (Family Muscidae) and the black flies (Family Simuliidae), as well as the biting midges or sand flies (Family Ceratopogonidae) and the mosquitoes (Family Culicidae), which are dealt with elsewhere (see Biting Midges fact sheet and Mosquito fact sheet). Compared with some other countries, black flies are usually not a concern in Australia although occasional problems occur following floods in northwestern NSW and Queensland.

March flies and stable flies are widespread throughout the warmer parts of Australia and will attack humans, livestock and domestic pets to acquire blood. The flies are stoutly built and are strong swift fliers that tend to be more active throughout the summer months especially in still, open sunny areas. The Tabanids, especially, are influenced by weather and will respond to changes in barometric pressure, wind, cloud cover and temperature.

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans is a vicious biter with piercing and sucking mouthparts that can easily penetrate socks and stockings. Both sexes of this fly will search for blood meals, often twice a day, and can engorge on blood up to three times their own body weight. In the cooler months their life span is 1-2 months, in warmer weather it is reduced to 3-4 weeks of adult life. These flies are seldom found in urban situations (except where horse stables or major composting areas are nearby) and are more often associated with rural properties and domestic animals; they are also common on some beaches where they breed in sea-weed. They have been known to enter homes and other buildings to blood feed during daylight hours.

March flies (Tabanids) have two large prominent eyes and are much larger and robust than stable flies; they have a shorter life than stable flies and an adult lives only 3-4 weeks. Although they are a major pest of livestock, several species will bite people. It is only the females that seek blood meals; the males feed on nectar and plant juices. Female tabanids are armed with two large blade-like mouthparts, that are used to pierce and slash skin. This inflicts a painful wound and produces a large puncture site that will continue to ooze blood long after the mouthparts are extracted. As the blood flows, the flies lap the blood to engorgement, unless disturbed. It has been estimated that some animals can loose up to 300ml of blood a day due to attack by these flies, resulting in serious blood loss. Adult tabanids are cosmopolitan but are more abundant in moist forests and woodlands. After mating, the females disperse, travelling many kilometres in search of blood meals. Tabanids are pests throughout summer and are a continual nuisance at outdoor activities, particularly near water.

MARSH FLY:

The family Sciomyzidae, the marsh flies, are of the order Diptera; some of the subgroups of this family are occasionally accorded status as separate families (Huttoninidae, Phaeomyiidae and Tetanoceridae). Marsh flies are generally slender, yellowish or brownish, ¼½ inches long. They have fairly prominent eyes, prominent forward-pointing antennae, and bristles on the hind femora (upper hind leg). The wings are often mottled with various light brown markings according to species. Marsh flies are common along the edges of ponds and rivers, and in marshy areas where the larvae prey on or become parasites of slugs & snails. Very little is known about the complete life cycle of these flies.

Habitat: Near ponds, streams, marshes. Food: Adults drink dew and nectar. Larvae prey on slugs and freshwater snails.

While on the fly subject....

....why do they call a Dragon Fly a Dragon Fly? Cos they don't look anything like a Dragon. They are cute though.

Seen them that big and bigger.

They are not bugg ers though, they are mongrels.

how long do those South West WA flies hang around? we are due to arrive there around end March/early April, and I cannot abide the little buggers! Shane

An old mountain cattleman in the high country of Victoria joined our horse trail riders group one time. He told us the "Marchies" favourite colour is blue and on avoiding that colour I proved this to be true.
Val  

what if we arrive later, say end April? are they still rampaging then? shane

shanem wrote:

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how long do those South West WA flies hang around? we are due to arrive there around end March/early April, and I cannot abide the little buggers! Shane

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 Shane, the March fly season lasts as long as the gums are in blossom, usually 3 - 4 weeks. Sometimes a bit longer, strong winds will blow the blossom off early as well.

You will be fine in March.

Cheers Bob