Is this a warble fly?!

[spotty_pony2]

Google reckons they are meant to be extinct? It was on my boy’s tail so I got it off and then took the photo.

 

[HorseMaid]

Google lens says it's a Bee Fly? Never heard of it or seen one!

 

[spotty_pony2]

Google lens says it's a Bee Fly? Never heard of it or seen one!

No me neither. I googled warble fly and it looked similar. Perhaps it’s rare?

 

[winnie]

Yes, a dark edged bee fly. Long proboscis to drink nectar. Quite common this time of year but easily mistaken for a bee.

 

[rabatsa]

Most horse people call warble flies bot flies. Cattle people call them warble flies.

 

[spotty_pony2]

Most horse people call warble flies bot flies. Cattle people call them warble flies.

doesn’t matter what it’s called if it’s the same thing does it?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Most horse people call warble flies bot flies. Cattle people call them warble flies.

Warble and Bots are not the same thing although they are both botflies. Warbles lay eggs that hatch out under the skin, usually on the back. Bots spray eggs on legs which the horses lick off and they hatch and transfer through the lips

What is a warble on a horse?

These are primary parasites of ruminants and horses are only sporadically affected. Warble flies are similar in appearance to bumblebees and fasten their eggs to hairs on the legs and ventrum. After a few days, the larvae hatch and burrow through the skin, migrating through the body via the connective tissues


Botflies (Gasterophilus spp) are parasitic flies that affect the horse’s digestive tract and can cause negative health consequences.

Botflies lay eggs on the horse’s coat in the summer. Some of these eggs, known as horse bots, are ingested as the horse licks and grooms itself.

The bot eggs hatch and the larvae develop in the horse’s mouth before migrating to the stomach where they attach to the gastric mucosa.

Once mature, they detach and are passed through the manure. They pupate into flies, and the cycle repeats with new botflies seeking out horses to host their eggs.

Gasterophilus intestinalis, also known as horse bot fly, is a species of insect of the family Oestridae, and is found worldwide. The adults, which have a bumblebee-like appearance, are prominently active in the summer. G. intestinalis is primarily a parasite of horses, mules and donkeys, rarely of other animals.

 

[cremedemonthe]

As above warble fly was eradicated around 1990 and saddlers were pleased as it affected the hides we buy in. Nothing worse than trying to put patterns on and cut round and avoiding a warble fly hole!

 

[spotty_pony2]

As above warble fly was eradicated around 1990 and saddlers were pleased as it affected the hides we buy in. Nothing worse than trying to put patterns on and cut round and avoiding a warble fly hole!

I thought they were extinct but wasn’t sure!

 

[3OldPonies]

I read somewhere that warble flys were extinct in this country but are now making a comeback thanks to the weather changing. I'm seriously hoping that bit of info is wrong!

 

[Orangehorse]

Some imported horses can carry warble flies.