I photographed this Horse Fly Eyes Close-up at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
According to my research. The eyes are widely spaced in females, but they are virtually touching in males. This appears to be a male.


Female Horse Flies require protein to produce eggs, despite the fact that adults prefer nectar and plant juices. This protein is derived from the blood of horses, cows, sheep, rabbits, and even humans. A Horse Fly female’s bite causes a red lump that can be felt right away.
After feeling the bite, victims frequently swipe at the fly to scare it away, but in their relentless quest for a blood meal, many female Horse Flies refuse to leave a target and pursue it even if it tries to flee.
How I Got The Photo:
This insect landed on the hood of my pickup and I decided to get a few photos.18
I was hand-holding my camera and lens while standing outside my pickup.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lens: Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II (attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro)
Technical:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
- Date and Time Taken: July 20, 2021 (7:07 A.M.)
- Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
- Aperture: f5.6
- Shutter speed: 1/1900
- ISO: 2500
- White Balance: Auto
- Metering Mode: Multi
- Back-button Focus
- Zone Continues Auto Focus
- Exposure Compensation: 0
- Focal Length: 400 mm
- Processed With Luminar