deerfly

noun

• 1a bloodsucking horsefly that attacks humans and other large mammals. It can transmit various diseases, including tularemia.

  • Genus Chrysops, family Tabanidae: several species, including C. callidus, widespread throughout North America

• 2a bloodsucking louse fly that is a parasite of deer. It loses its wings on finding a host, and the female gives birth to fully grown larvae.

  • Lipoptena cervi, family Hippoboscidae