Which of the following is a biting fly?

The stable fly is categorized as a biting fly because it possesses mouthparts that allow it to pierce the skin of mammals and feed on blood. This feeding behavior is characteristic of certain dipterans, particularly those in the family Muscidae, to which the stable fly belongs. Biting flies, such as stable flies, are known to be potential vectors for various diseases due to their blood-feeding habits.

In contrast, flies like the house fly, fruit fly, and blow fly do not have the anatomical adaptations for biting and feeding on blood. House flies feed primarily on decaying organic matter and are more associated with sanitation issues than biting. Fruit flies typically feed on fermenting fruits and do not pose biting risks. Blow flies, while they can be involved in decomposition processes, also lack biting mouthparts and are not blood-feeders. Thus, the stable fly clearly stands out as the correct answer among the choices.