Horse Fly - Hybomitra sp.
Family Tabanidae -- clegs, deer flies, horse flies / Subfamily Tabaninae (Horse Flies)
Live adult female fly photographed at Bartlett, Illinois. Size: 22mm
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Horse Fly - Hybomitra sp.
Female horse fly's eyes are separated; males' eyes meet at the top.
Horse flies (subfamily Tabaninae) are among the world's largest flies. The females can inflict a painful bite when in search of a blood meal for reproductive purposes.  Males rarely bite, instead feeding on nectar and pollen.

Horse flies and deer flies bother me most often when I am walking; they are attracted to dark moving objects, and they will continually buzz about my head and land on my hair. I have been bitten by deer flies, but never a horse fly. Deer fly bites are terrible - and you can swat the shit out of them and they will just fly away as if nothing happened!

Horse Fly - Hybomitra sp.
Characteristics of the Tabanidae:
  • Stout flies with large squamae (scales above the halteres, also called calypters)
  • Feet with 3 pads (as opposed to 2)
  • 3rd antennal segment elongated, clearly made up of several fused parts
  • 3rd antennal segment with a prominent tooth at base in some groups
  • Wing veins R4 and R5 fork to form a large 'Y' across the wing tip. [1]
Horse Fly Eyes
Horse Fly Eyes

References
  1. Bugguide. net, "Family Tabanidae - Horse and Deer Flies"
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