do picture-winged flies bite?

[thebeard]

went to a reserve today where there were a lot of flies. i flicked one off me but didnt get a good look at it, but thought it looked like a picture winged fly and there were plenty about. i didnt really feel it bite, but now i have a small mark on my arm. it doesn't hurt but if it starts to i'll visit the doctor!!

[Jason Claxton]

Hi the Beard

That sounds a bit like a Horsefly,maybe Chrysops relictus.

Cheers Jason.

[Geoff F]

Or one of it's close relatives. Superficially they do resemble Platystoma seminationis etc.

[Jason Green]

Evening Tom,

As far as I am aware no Picture-winged Flies (Tephritidae) bite. There is also a pretty notable size difference between Tephritids and Tabanids, on average I'd think.

Have you considered an Anthocoridae bug, or even just a coincidence?

Take care,

Jason

PS: Thanks Geoff; Platystoma seminationis - now I've identified one I found recently that I hadn't named!

[thebeard]

not really sure. i've heard horsefly bites are pretty nasty, this is ok really. seems to have faded a little from purple to red. nothing to worry about i'm sure!

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

That sounds a bit like a Horsefly,maybe Chrysops relictus.

My thoughts too Jason. I had what I think was one of these keep landing on my hands and camera while I was photographing damselflys last weekend. It wouldn't land anywhere where I could photograph it though. Picture wings and beautiful green eyes.

Dave P.

[bigdave60dog]

There are quite a few flies that bite at this time of year. I only notice that klegs ( horseflies) as they stay long enough to be flicked off and flattened after biting. They are really a wonder in the way that they can settle on wrist or ankle without me feeling their presence untill they stab me with their rostrum. i try to get them before they bite -last week it was klegs2, Dave 30 or more. Apart from "Mozzies and Midges" I rarely id the others but I have never knowingly beem speared by a picyure winged fly.
There was one year wqhen we had bunch of flies that left infected bites that swelled up, went septic and took ages to go. These looked a bit like houseflies but a bit bigger. I never knew what they were but they have not come back I`m glad to say.
Dave

[bigdave60dog]

Thanks for stimulating my interest. I generally steer clear of diptera.
I have watched picture winged flies quite often and always assumed that they do not feed as adults.
They do say the ASSUME makes and ASS of U and ME. I checked them out. Some of the females do feed and have rostrum type mouthparts to such plant juices. There fore just as some aphids and some capsid bugs will bite humans there is no reasom why some Trypetidae would not do the same.
It could well have been a pictute winged fly that bit you. You lucky person.
Dave

[thebeard]

looking at pictures of Chrysops relictus i think it more likely to be one of those.