Horse Fly

Horse flies are not everybody's favourite insect, indeed they are unlikely to be anybody's favourite.  They get the name from their habit of biting horses, their thick hide being no obstacle to the mouthparts of horse flies.  And they are not only partial to a blood meal from horses, but will happily take blood from any mammals, humans included.  They are a large group of insects with about 160 species found in Europe, of which about 30 are found in the UK.  Another common name is the Cleg-fly though I have been unable to find the origin of the name except that it is from old Norse.  It sounds like something you may nail into the soles of your clogs, but then I'm from oop north so what do I know.

Bright Horse-fly

I found this one sat harmlessly sucking nectar from hogweed while looking for bumblebees - and it was at least as big as a bumblebee and I expect a bite from one would be quite painful.  I think that this specimen is called a Bright Horse Fly.  Otherwise known as Hybomitra distinguenda, it is distinguished from H. bimaculata by the extent of the orange marks on its abdomen, and from H. ciureai (a rare species found at Rye Harbour) by the colour at the base of its antennae.  The most striking thing about this insect, apart from its size and its orange marking is those incredible stripey eyes.

I don't think that the ladybird is in any danger from the horse fly, but it does look a very threatening pose.

Bright Horse-fly and scale model