About Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus, 1758)
Stomoxys calcitrans, originally described by Linnaeus in 1758, has several common names: stable fly, barn fly, biting house fly, dog fly, and power mower fly. Unlike the majority of species in the family Muscidae, Stomoxys calcitrans (whose genus and species names translate to 'sharp mouth' + 'kicking') and other members of its genus suck blood from mammals. This species is now found across the globe, and is believed to have originated in Eurasia or Africa. As its common name stable fly suggests, it is abundant in and around areas where cattle are kept. Its maggots are frequently found in rotting manure near cattle and poultry. It also lives in coastal regions, where its larvae can grow in masses of decaying aquatic vegetation that have washed up on shore.
