Macro view of the head of a Black Horse Fly, Tabanus atratus, primarily found in the eastern United States. Black Horse Flies have large compound eyes, which are separated in females, and continuous in males. They have prominent mouthparts, which are easily distinguishable: The fascicle is made of six piercing organs. Starting from the outside, there are 2 flattened, bladelike mandibles with tooth like serrations used for cutting. Two narrow maxillae also serrated used to pierce the tissue and blood vessels of the host, a median hypopharynx and a median labrum-epipharynx.
Macro view of the head of a Black Horse Fly, Tabanus atratus, primarily found in the eastern United States. Black Horse Flies have large compound eyes, which are separated in females, and continuous in males. They have prominent mouthparts, which are easily distinguishable: The fascicle is made of six piercing organs. Starting from the outside, there are 2 flattened, bladelike mandibles with tooth like serrations used for cutting. Two narrow maxillae also serrated used to pierce the tissue and blood vessels of the host, a median hypopharynx and a median labrum-epipharynx. The hypopharynx and labrum-epipharynx make up the food canal, while the labrum is a large sponge like organ used to lap up blood.
Size: 4800px × 3707px
Photo credit: © USGS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: biology, biting, bladelike, dipterology, entomology, eyes, fascicle, female, flies, head, horizontal, horseflies, horsefly, insect, macro, mandibles, pest, science, stinging, usgs
