Their diet consists of:
* Blood from mammals, including horses, cattle, humans, and other animals.
* They may also consume some nectar for energy, but their primary food source is blood.
Here's a breakdown of their feeding habits:
* Females require blood to produce eggs.
* Males feed on nectar and do not bite.
* They use sharp, scissor-like mouthparts to cut through skin and access blood vessels.
* They inject an anticoagulant into the wound to prevent blood from clotting.
* A single horsefly can take multiple blood meals in a day.
It's important to note that horse flies can be a nuisance to animals and humans due to their painful bites and potential to transmit diseases.