UFO's

[haringit]

I'm quite familiar with clegs and midges but can anyone identify these two mean machines? This first one was seen on my route back from An Socach in the Parph.

It had been on the rock in front of me and was attempting to feed, literally trying to get blood out of stone.

It had been on the rock in front of me and was attempting to feed, literally trying to get blood out of stone.

The second was seen resting on a car in Strathconon. I thought it was a hornet at first, then a giant hoverfly. But looking closer at the mouth parts decided it was probably after blood.

It was about an inch long and was not phased by the close up shot.

It was about an inch long and was not phased by the close up shot.

It was about an inch long and was not phased by the close up shot.

[CharlesT]

That looks like onr of the horse flies(cleg). Possibly a male which would explain its not trying to feed off you. But it could be a species specific one. The eyes being far apart point to a female though. Maybe she had already acquired all the blood necessary for her egg production.

[haringit]

That looks like onr of the horse flies(cleg). Possibly a male which would explain its not trying to feed off you. But it could be a species specific one. The eyes being far apart point to a female though. Maybe she had already acquired all the blood necessary for her egg production.

Horsefly makes sense Charles. Thanks.

[BlackPanther]

Oh I recognize the second one. It's Tabanus Bromius - the band-eyed brown horsefly. Very nasty fellow Feeds mainly on cattle and horses. We once saw a few of them sitting on our car at Corriechoille car park. There was a small herd of cows nearby so that's where they came from. I don't even want to think how painful their bite is

[haringit]

Yes. That looks like it. The one in your photo looks even meaner than the one in mine.

[basscadet]

Oh my dad has some gruesome tales about the ones with the green eyes.. Never ever seen one myself, but after the stories I would run away and never go back to that spot again in July if I saw one.. thanks for the heads up

[haringit]

I've since found out that the green eyed ones are called deerflys. Scary looking but they were just as easy to swat as clegs.