June 23, 2022

I am a fly in the Genus Tabanus

Possibly a Striped Horse Fly

To tell for sure, get a real close look

At my wings, antennae, and eyes.*

To view the article linked below, sign up for a free JSTOR account. It's a great resource, and you can download/view 100 scientific papers/articles per month. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 44, No. 2, Jun., 1961 - An Annotated List of the Horse Flies of Florida and an Illustrated Key to the Genera (Diptera: Tabanidae) 

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 12, 2020

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

This is someone in the Tabanidae family
Possibly a Striped Horse Fly
Tabanids are native and beneficial pollinators
But the females have mean, nasty bites. 

Sources: UF | IFAS Features Creatures - Deer flies, Yellow Flies and Horse Flies

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson