Can Horse Flies Bite Through Clothing?
Horse flies are well adapted for the purpose of biting, with sharp mouthparts that are well equipped for piercing through skin. But how well do these flies fare against clothing?
Piercing Through Materials
Unlike certain types of insects like mosquitoes, horse flies don’t rely on a single well-targeted puncture to penetrate through layers of clothing. Instead, they flail on the clothing surface and their powerful mouthparts are capable of needle-like piercing through lighter materials like:
- Cotton
- Really thin synthetic
- Broadcloth
Heavy layers, including heavier leather and PVC, provide much better protection, while tightly woven fabrics may surprise you by not being entirely safe.
What to Wear?
Horse flies are relatively large, with some species reaching up to 2.5 cm in length, and their powerful bite can be felt on bare skin. So, if you want to protect yourself from the flies’ enthusiasm for bites, you should opt for thick layers.
Here is a list of materials that are difficult for horses flies to bite through:
- Thick cotton
- Heavy leather
- Thick synthetic or wool
- PVC
- Tightly woven fabrics.
Remember, thicker the fabric, the better!