Blood-Sucking Fly FAQs

You may have heard of the term “blood-sucking fly” before, but did you know that it actually does not mean that flies feed on human blood? The fact is, flies do eat blood, but they do so only occasionally. It’s not because they need the blood to survive, but rather because it gives them the necessary nutrients to lay their eggs more easily. While this may seem like a scary thought, it is actually more common than most people realize. These FAQs will help you better understand the nature of these flies, and what to do to avoid them.

The most common blood-sucking fly is the mosquito, which is a member of the Culicidae family. Female mosquitoes require protein to make eggs, and the immature mosquitoes feed on organic matter in water. They then use the blood from their meal to inject their long tube into the skin of the host to feed. They will then use saliva to prevent the blood from clotting and to digest the protein.

Other flies that feed on blood include horse flies and deer flies. These insects can be quite painful. They can cause blisters and tiny red bumps and can even transmit diseases. Horse flies are particularly painful and may cause hives or wheezing.