The Blood Sucker

As I found myself out of the forest the Tabanid fly Haematopota pluvialis landed on my index finger and started drawing blood. It was little bit itchy as lancet like mandibles were piercing throught my skin but I was holding on. As I was losing blood its flattened abdomen that was hardly seen under wings started to be swollen and showed black pleurites on both sides. The fly body was slender and grey coloured with some camo patern on wings. I noticed the beautiful metallic eyes on its head. Unlike the males the eyes were separated so I identified it as female. Males also dont feed on blood but prefer nectar so can be found on various flowers. After the fly flew away small droplet of blood appeared on my finger. But I expected that.


Black pleurites showed on both sides of the abdomen as blood flowed in.

Unlike Solenophgy blood feeders that draw blood directly from capillary, Tabanids flies are Telmophagy blood feeders that cut the skin with sharp mandibles and lick running blood from the skar. This is why there is blood on the host after feeding.

 

Female of the Haematopota pluvialis drawing blood from my index finger.

And than there was something personal.

The fly took my blood and I took the photos of it.

 Than we parted away and never seen each other again.

And that is the end of the story...

 

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