Yellow fly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow fly |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: |
Brachycera
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| Infraorder: |
Tabanomorpha
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| Superfamily: |
Tabanoidea
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| Family: | |
| Subfamily: |
Tabaninae
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| Tribe: |
Diachlorini
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| Genus: |
Diachlorus
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| Species: |
D. ferrugatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius, 1805)
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| Synonyms | |
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Chrysops ferrugatus Fabricius, 1805 |
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The Diachlorus ferrugatus, often called the yellow fly in the United States or the doctor fly in Belize, is a type of horse-fly. These flies are known for their painful bites and live in North and Central America, all the way down to Costa Rica. They belong to a family of flies called Tabanidae.
Contents
What is a Yellow Fly?
The yellow fly was first described by a scientist named Johan Christian Fabricius in 1805. He originally named it Chrysops ferrugatus.
How to Spot a Yellow Fly
Adult yellow flies are about 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long. They have yellow bodies and yellow legs in the middle and back. Their front legs are black. Their eyes are a cool blue-green color with purple stripes. You usually won't hear them flying, so the first sign they are around is often their bite!
Yellow Fly Babies (Larvae)
The young yellow flies, called larvae, look like thin white grubs. They have soft, fine yellow fur. Each part of their body has three pairs of small, leg-like bumps called pseudopodia.
Where Do Yellow Flies Live?
Yellow flies live in the southeastern United States, from New Jersey down to Texas. They also live further south in Central America, reaching Costa Rica.
Yellow Fly Hangouts
These flies like to be near water, like ponds or swamps. They also enjoy hiding in nearby trees. A common hiding spot for them is a plant called Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides).
Yellow Flies and People
Yellow flies are famous for biting people. In Florida, they are known as one of the most aggressive types of flies.
Why Do They Bite?
Only female yellow flies bite. They need blood to help their eggs grow. They are most active during the summer and early autumn. You'll often find them flying around during the day, especially in the late afternoon or on cloudy days. Sometimes, they even fly inside houses!
When Are They Most Active?
From April to June, yellow flies can make outdoor activities like swimming, boating, and fishing less fun. Their bites can leave itchy red bumps on your skin.
How to Protect Yourself
An insect repellent called DEET is very helpful against yellow flies. However, if there are many flies, even DEET might not stop all bites. In those cases, wearing physical barriers like gloves and headnets is the best way to protect yourself.
