The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Elissian on July 12, 2010, 09:07:12 pm

Title: blood sucking insect
Post by: Elissian on July 12, 2010, 09:07:12 pm

there was a large flying insect sucking my pigs blood today. 1 1/4 inches with a black and buff striped body, quite alarming! Does anyone know what they are and do they carry disease.

Title: Re: blood sucking insect
Post by: DJ_Chook on July 12, 2010, 11:27:46 pm

Urocerus gigas?  Pictures a plenty on google images.

Title: Re: blood sucking insect
Post by: nessjw on July 13, 2010, 08:20:52 pm

Quote from: Elissian on July 12, 2010, 09:07:12 pm

there was a large flying insect sucking my pigs blood today. 1 1/4 inches with a black and buff striped body, quite alarming! Does anyone know what they are and do they carry disease.

Was it a horse fly? horrible bleeding things...I got bit the other day, itched like mad!