Tabanidae is a family that contains insects commonly known as horse flies, deer flies, or gadflies. Tabanids are large and conspicuous insects. While the males are mostly harmless, females have piercing mouthparts that they use to draw blood.

Art and fact by Allen Chew, Instagram & Twitter @toldentops

[Edited by Nicole Rodrigues]

Reference:

Chainey, J.E. (1993). Horse-flies, deer-flies and clegs (Tabanidae). In: Lane, R.P., Crosskey, R.W. (eds) Medical Insects and Arachnids. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1554-4_8