Diptera Tabanidae... I call them "horsefly horribalus" for the bites they inflict. Wikipedia says: Often considered pests for the bites that many inflict, they are among the world's largest true flies. The bite from a larger specimen is extremely painful, especially considering the light, agile, and airborne nature of the fly. Unlike insects which surreptitiously puncture the skin with needle-like organs, horse flies have mandibles like tiny serrated scimitars, which they use to rip and/or slice flesh apart. This causes the blood to seep out as the horsefly licks it up. They may even carve a chunk completely out of the victim, to be digested at leisure.
If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the mandibles. Ugh. I hate the bites they leave behind on our poor horses. We are constantly spraying the horses with Ultra Shield fly spray, which is supposed to last about 14 days. Um-hum. Yeah, right.
Here are some prettier things I found during my walkabout...
Everyone was right about my flowers...they have thrived since our damaging hail storms!
Our neighbor to the south was busy putting up hay yesterday.
Ye olde outhouse still stands.... for now.I think it will be the next outbuilding tear-down, soon.
Wishing everyone a happy Saturday,
wherever you might be!
wherever you might be!
I love a field with freshly baled hay.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
It would be a shame to tear down your extra bathroom. One never knows when it might come in handy. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, thanks for talking us on your walkabout with you :-)
ReplyDeleteI meant to say taking us with you not "talking" us - ooops!
ReplyDeleteUgg, horseflies. Hate 'em. But I loved the other things you saw on your walkabout. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the petunias.
ReplyDeleteWe have the horse flies from hell here too! Down in this hollow where we live they are clouds of them to swoop down on unsuspecting victims...Gilly especially! They don't seem to bother Pokey as much but he still gets bit too. He is smart though he will stand by Gilly's hind legs so Gilly's tail swats them away. No fly spray I have tried even touches the killer flies. I read that nothing will deter them, it's useless.
ReplyDeleteLove all your pictures from your walkabout, except the killer fly! LOL The cheery pink petunias is my favorite!!!
~Jane
No horse flies here, but the skeeters are certainly ankle biters... they get me every time!
ReplyDeleteDi
Snappy
The thing I really hate about horseflies is the way they find you when you're out trying to paddle a canoe and they just keep biting you until you get so fed up you tip the canoe over on purpose... and then they bite you some more when you come up for air! Evil! They're just evil!
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures! Well, the horsefly... hmmmm. But a great pic nonetheless :) Your flowers survived and recovered well. And, I think you should keep that old outhouse. I'm sure you could fix it up cute! Hmmmm, tool shed, potting shed, chicken coop?? -tammy
ReplyDeleteHi Oz,
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by my blog and leaving a comment. Do drop in often. I'd love your visits and comments and follow ups... :)
My Travelogue
That horse fly is just enormous! Ugh.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty bird house! And actually, the outhouse is lovely too. Looks like all the toilets that country cottages in Sweden have...
Great pictures..but you can keep the horsefly and tell me why did I enlarge that picture to look at it?...Yuck!! :) -Cathy
ReplyDeleteYou should make the outhouse into a planter or something. Big bird house? Deer shelter? chicken coop? The possibilities are endless.
ReplyDeleteThat was a nasty looking horsefly!!! Loved the flowers - they just look gorgeous. How lovely to be beside a field with bales of hay - like something out of a movie to us!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend.
love
Martha & Bailey xxxx
If you're on septic and a well, you just might want to keep that pretty little outhouse afterall. Another blog friend recently had her well stop working, and they had no other bathroom to use, so they had to drive sveral miles down the road to use a gas station restroom instead. Personally I'd rather use an outhouse thana gas station bathroom. lol!
ReplyDeleteThe outhouse would also make an adorable potting shed for a garden or even a chicken coop/hen house. It's rather charming.
On the other hand, the horse fly....is not. I enlarged that photo and I think I will have nightmares tonight. gah!
Excellent photo...but scary mandibles.
~Lisa
Keep the outhouse. A little paint plant some flowers around it and you have a historical building
ReplyDeletewell the outhouse would be a KEEPER to me and all the other bloggers
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this - gives me such a good feel for Kansas. Our bizzy-lizzies are doing well too
ReplyDeleteI almost didn't scroll down after seeing that nasty fly. But glad I did. The rest of the pictures totally make up for it!!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos! It must be really pleasing to know you only have to go outside your front door to capture some amazing images :-)
ReplyDeleteLots of rain here this summer--horse flies: yikes!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad there are people like you who love the country! I like watching the country in movies. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the touch of country pastures, fresh flowers and the simple life.
ReplyDeleteI hate the bite they give me also! HUGE. They can eve fly as fast as a slow motorcycle or 4-wheeler. NASTY BUGS!
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Oh, you are so right. The horseflys here in Tn have been horrid this year! I even got bit-on my neck :( Welted up about 2 inches, and hurt like *@*#!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others KEEP that outhouse!!! I would love to have it. I am dreaming about decorating it right now....
Misha
p.s. hoping for a foal in the next week. she is starting to show some "foaling signs"!
Loved it all except the Horse Fly. I hate those things.
ReplyDeleteThat is an ugly good for nothin horse fly. I do so love your pink birdhouse..very pretty..and the petunias too.. YES your flowers have rebounded!! They look great! :)
ReplyDeleteDefintely do not tear town the outhouse. As an old Kansas boy I can tell it would make a great tool shed or garden storage shed. It will make you happy if you save it. You can never have enough sheds.
ReplyDelete