They predominately feed on nectar and pollen, but the females need a diet of blood to ensure successful reproduction.
Mr Horsefly = good
Mrs Horsefly = bad
So typically opposite to us then...Mrs R...sweets, chocolate, cake, honey, Me...black pudding, steak, bacon, steak, ham, steak..
Mr Horsefly....sweets, chocolate, cake, honey....you can see where this is going....
My last horsefly bite was on my forearm and swelled up so much it looked like someone had shoved half an orange under my skin and felt like somone had blowtorched my arm. Since then I go nowhere outside without Jungle Formula 50% DEET