They live in still or stagnant water, from lakes to bird feeders to old tires. Family Simuliidae Small, rather squat flies with large, rounded wings and a distinctive humpback shape. Most common are ''white socks,'' so-called because of the white stripes on their legs. Females bite and can be extremely annoying in forested areas. The intensely itchy bite begins as a small, red dot in the middle of a slightly swollen area, then grows into a large, inflamed area.
Females bite fiercely, often making victims yelp from the pain.
They fly in large numbers, usually in still, humid air. They tend to bite unprotected skin, as on the forehead, or where the skin is fairly soft. The bite looks like a red splotch rather than a distinct spot. Deerflies Family Tabanidae Large flies with broad heads and bulging, often brightly colored eyes. Despite the name, females enjoy sucking blood from humans as well as deer.