Horse flies: what are they for?

[Springchicken]

Said beasties seem to have proliferated locally and I was wondering what they do, other than bite me and nearby livestock? Are they a food source for something? Do they pollinate things or are they just a complete and utter pain in the proverbial?

I would like to know before I do something drastic to reduce their population and my discomfort.

 

[Pattree]

Indeed. One can’t help thinking that Noah missed an opportunity in the case of horse flies.

 

[TeeDee]

Indeed-indeed.


Don't even look like Horsey's !!

 

[slowworm]

Or rather the the OP resembles a horse! Sorry, no offence intended by some of their descriptions says they prefer horses to humans. They do seem to prefer some people more than others.

I've rescued several of the 1" long giant horse flies again this year, I'm quite fond of them and I expect they'd be a decent meal for something.

 

[hughtrimble]

They have a pollinating function, but I agree, they are horrendous insects.

 

[Chris]

Perhaps if they spent less time shouting, they’d just be ‘flies’.

 

[Nice65]

Lovely eyes.

 

[Nice65]

I have just come back from camping in the van, and something about the grey of the van and awning attracts hundreds of them. These were the giant bovine flies, and though they're a pest to have around, they don't like human blood.

Deer horsefies, and the regular horseflies are a different matter. One grated it's way through the skin on my wrist, got a slap and simply landed again partway up my arm, another slap and round behind me. They're both determined and bulletproof.

More eyes:

 

[Toddy]

I honestly believe that everything has a right to live, in some way they fit into the entirety of the cycle.....I make an exception for clegs (horseflies).
I kill any one that I spot.

I have to carry an epi-pen for their bites.

I have yet to find a single benefit that they provide, weird eyes included.

 

[Mesquite]

Google says:
Horse flies are a vital food source for insectivorous wildlife like birds, frogs, and fish. Additionally, male horse flies act as pollinators by feeding on nectar, while the larvae help control other aquatic invertebrates in wetland environments.
While painful to humans and livestock, they play an important role in the ecosystem:

• Food Chain: Adult flies are prey for birds, dragonflies, and wasps (such as the horse guard wasp), while the larvae feed on smaller insects and are eaten by fish.
• Pollination: Because only female horse flies bite to develop their eggs, males feed strictly on plant nectar and pollen, accidentally pollinating flowers as they move.
• Grazing Management: By constantly biting wild herbivores like horses, these flies force the animals to move around frequently, which prevents overgrazing and aids in the dispersion of plant seeds.
• Natural Selection: They act as natural population control and keep wildlife vigilant, ensuring that only the healthiest animals thrive.

Typically, it's the bloody females that cause us grief...

I've never heard of a horse guard wasp but on looking them up it's something we could do with, that or lots more Kite-tailed Robber flies

Robber fly impales a horse fly and sucks his innards out.​

 

[Aristotle]

Robber fly impales a horse fly and sucks his innards out.​

View attachment 103895

It reminds me of song from nursery school.

"There was an old lady who swallowed a fly"

Where would it end?!