The Nature of Phenology 7/18/20: Deer Flies

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn
Host: Hazel Stark

Deer flies lay their eggs in or around water where they will hatch and the young larvae will grow up eating decomposing organic matter. When they emerge as adults the males tend to feast exclusively on fruit and nectar, but the females—compelled by the increased metabolic demands of motherhood—look for energy dense food in the form of blood, and fresh blood at that.

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