"Lynda Thornton" wrote in message
...
In article , BAC
writes

"Lynda Thornton" wrote in message
...
Hi

Just after I ended the 'frightening insect' thread saying I was
stumped,
I found an insect photo of a 'large marsh horsefly' on the following
website which looked similar. There were no measurements given so I
don't know the size of the creature on the photo, but in general it's
the best resemblance so far, although the markings on the ones I've
seen
are more obviously horizontal looking.

http://www.david.element.ukgateway.n...eousflies1.htm

Anyone any ideas of size for this creature?

Lynda


The photo looks very like a female giant horse fly, tabanus bovinus. They
grow up to 24 mm, a lot less than the suggested inch and a half, and they
are not silent flyers.


Hi

The latin name for the photo fly was given as tabanus autumnalis - there
are lots of these creatures I believe, and maybe the size varies.

The UK is reputed to host 34 species of tabanidae (horseflies or gadflies),
and I don't think there's much difference in size between the 'giant
horsefly' and the 'large marsh' horsefly, although I've not (knowingly) seen
the latter. If they are as similar to the 'giant' as the picture you
referred to suggests, maybe that's not surprising. Besides, when I see one
of these, or a cleg, my initial reaction is usually to take evasive action,
because, speaking from experience, the bites hurt!