Hybomitra aterrima
# Hybomitra aterrima

Hybomitra aterrima is a species of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

## Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe (Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Spain and Switzerland).

## Description

Hybomitra aterrima can reach a length of 13–16 millimetres (0.51–0.63 in).

The body is black and the wings are transparent, with a small dark patch at the base of the vein R4.

Face is black haired, with high antennal bows. Palpi are blackish with black hairs. The compound eyes are well-developed in both sexes. They have an iridescent light green pigmentation, with three blue-reddish transversal bands.

The Hybomitra aterrima var. auripila (Meigen) has the abdominal tergites more or less distinctly golden-yellow pubescent on posterior margins.

## Biology

Males of these horse flies feed on plant juices, while female are bloodsuckers, feeding mainly on mammalian blood, as they require a blood meal before they are able to reproduce. They may be very annoying for cattle, but usually they do not bite people.

