Twin-lobed Deerfly
Chrysops relictus
This record describes Chrysops relictus (species). Recorded family: Tabanidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Length 8 to 10.5 mm. A stoutly-built insect. The patterning may vary slightly but there are always black lobes on the second abdominal segment. There are other similar species and care needs to be taken with identification. It's preferred habitat is damp floodplain meadows, it will use other moist areas and woodland, particularly if there is mud or soft wet ground close by. The adults can give humans a painful bite, and the females suck the blood of grazing animals, whilst males feed on flower pollen. The larvae feed upon organic matter in damp soils, and are termed hydrobionts in that they inhabit areas of high water content. Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain. Chrysops ID Guide - Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme
Wikipedia reference for Chrysops relictus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysops_relictus.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It's preferred habitat is damp floodplain meadows, it will use other moist areas and woodland, particularly if there is mud or soft wet ground close by.
Seasonal Activity
May to September.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The adults can give humans a painful bite, and the females suck the blood of grazing animals, whilst males feed on flower pollen. The larvae feed upon organic matter in damp soils, and are termed hydrobionts in that they inhabit areas of high water content.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Chrysops relictus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Twin-lobed Deerfly (4)
Photo credits: (c) Tatiana Strus, some rights reserved (CC BY). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/398055185. Original downloaded bytes; proportional display only
Frequently Asked Questions About Twin-lobed Deerfly
What is Twin-lobed Deerfly?
Twin-lobed Deerfly (Chrysops relictus) is a species in the family Tabanidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Twin-lobed Deerfly?
8 to 10.5 mm. A stoutly-built insect. The patterning may vary slightly but there are always black lobes on the second abdominal segment. There are other similar species and care needs to be taken with identification.
Where is Twin-lobed Deerfly found?
Habitat: It's preferred habitat is damp floodplain meadows, it will use other moist areas and woodland, particularly if there is mud or soft wet ground close by.
When is Twin-lobed Deerfly active?
Twin-lobed Deerfly: seasonal activity - May to September..
What is the life cycle of a Twin-lobed Deerfly?
The adults can give humans a painful bite, and the females suck the blood of grazing animals, whilst males feed on flower pollen. The larvae feed upon organic matter in damp soils, and are termed hydrobionts in that they inhabit areas of high water content.