Blood-feeding dipterans can be classified based on which sexes feed on vertebrate blood and on food preference. In certain species of dipterans, only the females feed on vertebrate blood, which is required for egg laying; these species include black flies, sand flies, biting midges, mosquitoes, horse flies, and deer flies. In other species of blood-feeding dipterans, both male and female flies feed on vertebrate blood; these species include stable flies, horn flies, buffalo flies, tsetse flies, sheep keds, and hippoboscid or louse flies.
OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER
Flies
Overview of Flies
Dipterans with Biting Mouthparts
Black Flies
Sand Flies
Biting Midges
Mosquitoes
Horse Flies and Deer Flies
Stable Flies
Horn Flies
Buffalo Flies
Tsetse Flies
Sheep Keds
Spider Flies/New Forest Flies
Hippoboscid or Louse Flies
Dipterans with Nonbiting Mouthparts
Face Flies
Head Flies
Filth-breeding Flies
Eye Gnats
Dipterans that Produce Myiasis
Facultative Myiasis-producing Flies
Obligatory Myiasis-producing Flies
Pseudomyiasis