horsefly, common name for the large hairy flies of the family Tabanidae. Male horseflies feed on pollen and nectar, but the females suck blood as well and are common pests of animals and sometimes of humans. The bites of many species are very painful. The larger horseflies, e.g., the mourning horsefly and the 1-in. (2.5-cm) black horsefly, belong to the genus Tabanus; the smaller and more common banded horseflies, with black, brown, or yellow bodies and brilliantly colored eyes, are members of the genus Chrysops. The deerflies, which carry the diseases anthrax and tularemia, and in Africa, a filarial worm infestation, belong to this group. Horseflies are most abundant in hot weather. The eggs are laid on plants or stones close to water. The somewhat flattened 1/2-in. (1.3-cm) larvae have fleshy protuberances on each body segment, aiding in locomotion; they live in water or in moist earth and feed on snails and on other insect larvae. Horseflies are classified in the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Diptera, family Tabanidae. See insect.

Any member of the dipteran genus Tabanus or, more generally, of the family Tabanidae. These stout flies range from as small as a housefly to as large as a bumblebee. Sometimes called greenheaded monsters, horseflies have metallic or iridescent eyes. Adults are fast, strong fliers usually found around streams, marshes, and wooded areas. They may carry animal diseases, including anthrax, tularemia, and trypanosomiasis. The bites of the bloodsucking females can be painful, and a swarm may suck more than 3 oz (about 90 ml) of blood a day from an animal. Males feed on nectar, honeydew, and plant sap. Horseflies of the genus Chrysops, usually called deerflies, are smaller and have dark markings on the wings.

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Horsefly, British Columbia or Harper's Camp, British Columbia is a small village in the north Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located between the Cariboo Mountains and Quesnel Lake and borders Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Horsefly River and Horsefly Lake were given their names by the miners who came to the area during the Cariboo Gold Rush and were greeted by masses of pesky horseflies, but the village of Horsefly was known as Harper's Camp until approximately 1920 when it was changed to Horsefly.

History

The first major gold discovery of the Cariboo Gold Rush was made on the Horsefly River by Peter Dunlevy in 1859. More goldseekers soon arrived and a town was built near the site of Dunlevy's strike including several hotels, a store and a post office.

Then in 1887, the area experienced a second boom when Thaddeus Harper built and operated the first of several hydraulic mines and the town became known as Harper's Camp. One of these mines was also known as Horsefly.

Modern day

Today the village of Horsefly is a popular tourist destination with a strong forestry based economy. Sockeye salmon return each fall to spawn in the Horsefly River.

Horsefly offers all the amenities to locals and visitors, including a general store, grocery store, gas station, hardware store, museum, motel and a neighborhood pub.

External links

• Horsefly, British Columbia