Kim Taylor / Golden-eyed Horse Fly (Chrysops quadratus), close-up of eyes. UK

Oliver Wright / Horsefly (Hybomitra sp) male resting, portrait. Skipwith Common National Nature Reserve, North Yorkshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked image.

Oliver Wright / Hairy legged horsefly (Hybomitra bimaculata) female, portrait. Skipwith Common National Nature Reserve, North Yorkshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked image.

Nick Upton / A strictly nectar-feeding Horse fly (Pangonius striatus), endemic to Sardinia, feeding on Sea holly flowers (Eryngium maritimum) on a beach, Sardinia, Italy, June.

Nick Upton / Large marsh horsefly (Tabanus autumnalis) resting on a fence, Dorset, UK, July.

Nick Upton / Large marsh horsefly (Tabanus autumnalis) resting on a fence, Dorset, UK, July.

Jan Hamrsky / Horse fly larva (Tabanidae), Europe, February, controlled conditions

Alex Hyde / Horsefly (Philipomyia aprica) Nordtirol, Austrian Alps, July.

Alex Hyde / Horsefly (Philipomyia aprica) Nordtirol, Austrian Alps, July.

Kim Taylor / Horsefly (Philipomyia aprica) male feeding on flowers (Umbelliferae) Bulgaria, July.

Kim Taylor / Horsefly (Hybomitra distinguenda) male hovering, on the lookout for females. Surrey, England, June.

John Abbott / Horse fly (Tabanus petiolatus), Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, USA Controlled conditions. June