Deer flies in Texas
Yes — deer flies are recorded in Texas. The GBIF biodiversity database holds 47 verified deer fly records from the state — ranking it 11th nationally. Sightings concentrate in April to May. Onset: immediate sharp pain. Duration: a few days.
| Verified records | 47 |
|---|---|
| Peak sightings | April to May |
| State bite season | February to December |
| Active | daylight hours, worst in humid weather near water |
| Habitat | wetlands, lakesides, wooded trails |
| Bite appears | immediate sharp pain |
Deer fly bites in Texas: what the mark looks like
Deer flies circle the head and bite the scalp and neck, which distinguishes them from horseflies going for legs and back. The patterned wings and gold-green eyes are visible when one lands.
Locally, the species most often confused with it are black widow spider bite, brown recluse spider bite, chigger bite — all of which are also recorded in Texas.
Seek medical care if
- spreading redness and warmth
- fever with swollen glands after a bite
What else it could be in Texas
These are recorded in Texas too and are the ones most often confused with it here. The differences below are the ones that actually separate them.
| Deer fly bite | Horsefly bite | |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | single or a few, often on the scalp and neck | single, occasionally two |
| Where on body | scalp, neck, shoulders — they target the highest point of a moving person | legs, back, shoulders — often through thin clothing |
| Appears | immediate sharp pain | immediate, sharp — you feel this one |
| Records here | 47 | 1,509 |
Deer fly season in Texas specifically
Records in Texas concentrate in April to May, which is what local sighting data shows rather than a national average — seasonality shifts substantially with latitude. The general bite season in Texas runs February to December.
Because wetlands, lakesides, wooded trails, exposure in Texas tends to be concentrated in specific places rather than spread evenly — which is why a bite history ("where were you in the 24 hours before?") narrows the answer faster than the appearance of the mark.
Month by month in Texas
These are the 47 Texas records broken out by the month they were recorded — not a national curve redrawn for the state. Records appear in 4 of the 12 months here. The single busiest month is May with 17 records (71% of the state total).
| Month | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| March | 1 | 4% |
| April | 4 | 17% |
| May | 17 | 71% |
| June | 2 | 8% |
Counts are observations submitted to GBIF, not bites. They tell you when the animal is out and being noticed in Texas; they do not tell you how many people were bitten. The thinnest month with any record at all is March (1).
How Texas compares
Across the 40 states with any deer fly records, Texas ranks 11th with 47. The state directly above it is New York (50). Directly below is New Hampshire (44). The highest count anywhere is Indiana (419).
Inside Texas itself the picture is different again: of the 22 biting species we track with records here, this one is 17th and accounts for <1% of the 70,626 records logged in the state. A species can be common nationally and marginal in one state, or the reverse — which is the whole reason this page exists separately from the national guide.
Care
- wash, cold pack, antihistamine
- keep the site clean
Avoiding deer flies in Texas
- hats and light-coloured clothing
- sticky patches on caps work surprisingly well on trails
- repellent has limited effect
Questions
Are there deer flies in Texas?
Yes. Texas accounts for 47 verified records in GBIF, ranking it 11th among the 40 states with any records for this species, just behind New York (50). Within Texas it is 17th of the 22 biting species we track here, at <1% of the state's records. Records reflect reporting effort as well as abundance.
When are deer flies active in Texas?
Texas records peak in April to May. The general bite season in Texas runs February to December.
What does the bite look like?
a painful red weal, smaller than a horsefly bite, red. Single or a few, often on the scalp and neck.
Which month has the most sightings in Texas?
May, with 17 of the 47 Texas records (71%). Records appear in 4 of the 12 months here. This counts sightings submitted to GBIF, not bites.
Get a photo assessment in the app
Everything above is free to read. The app adds what a page cannot: point your camera at the bite and get an assessment of the most likely cause, a severity read, and a day-by-day care plan — including the specific signs that mean you should be seen.
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