What is a zhigalka fly: a dangerous bloodsucker or an innocent autumn buzzer

A sexually mature insect has a pubescent, stocky, light gray body with dark stripes on the chest and black spots on the back. In length, it reaches from 5,5 to 7 mm. On a large mobile head cheekbones with a yellowish-white coating, short black antennae and prominent compound eyes are located, in the forehead area there is a dark stripe. The body is connected to the head with a thin, strong "stalk". The black paws are thin and flexible. An insect flies with a pair of transparent wings.

Stinger maggots, depending on development, change color from cream to brown, shedding three times and acquiring a denser cover after that. At the first stage, their flexible long body is transparent, reaching a length of up to 1,2 mm and growing at the third age up to 12 mm. The body consists of eight segments, the last of which contains spiracles. A ring of small spines can be seen on the breast, and on the abdomen from the 2nd to the 7th segment there are tuberculate growths that serve as a means of transportation for the legless fly larvae.

The life cycle of zhigals, which is 3-8 weeks, begins with the formation of the pupa. Before pupation, the maggot is immersed in decaying organic matter to a depth of half a meter and spends there from 4 to 7 days. For full development, he needs a temperature of + 27- + 30 degrees and a humidity of 20-40%. After that, an imago ready to continue the genus is born. Insects reproduce very quickly. It takes only one day for the egg to develop to the larval stage. During its existence, the female lays up to four hundred eggs, 25 pieces in each batch, choosing dung heaps, rotting remains of plants, wounds on the body of people and animals as an incubator.

When the air warms up more than +15 0С, zhigals become active and get out to brightly lit places to soak up the sun. When the temperature drops to +8 0C, their activity weakens, vital functions in the autumn-winter period are suspended, resuming again with the advent of spring. If the environmental conditions are optimal, the development of pests continues all year round.

Both male and female Zhigalok feed on blood, biting horses, cows, pigs and humans. They get it by rubbing the proboscis against the skin, scraping the epidermis until bloody droplets appear and releasing poisonous saliva that can cause severe irritation. The proboscis of the fly, directed forward, is adapted for such feeding due to sucking plates and chitinous "cloves" at the end for better penetration to the blood vessels. At a time, the female can drink a dose twice her own weight. This diet is necessary for the parasite to complete the reproduction cycle.