Other Common Names
The very large Merycomyia would be called a Horse Fly
Numbers
99 taxa in NA (97 spp. 2 ssp.)
Identification
Hind tibia (on legs) with apical spurs [cf. no spurs in Tabaninae]; 3rd segment of antenna (=flagellum) consisting of a long slender basal part (basal flagellomere) + 4 short apical flagellomeres [the other SF: Pangongiinae has flagellum divided into 7 or 8 flagellomeres].
Thus, a lateral view of the head to show antennae is most useful for identifying tabanids to subfamily
Habitat
Wetlands, including salt marshes.
Food
Adults feed on plant nectar; females on vertebrate blood; larvae carnivorous and detritus feeders
Life Cycle
Larvae probably more than 1 year
Remarks
Subfamily 2 (of 3) of the Family: Tabanidae
2 Tribes are included:
T1 Bouvieromyiini, containing 1 Genus:
... G1 Merycomyia with 2 spp.
T2 Chrysopsini, containing 3 Genera:
... G1 Silvius with 12 taxa (11 spp, 1 ssp)
... G2 Chrysops with 83 taxa (81 spp, 2 ssp)
... G3 Neochrysops with 1 sp.
Internet References
pinned adult images of 10 species of
Chrysops (Insects of Cedar Creek, U. of Minnesota)
Contributed by
Tony Thomas on 14 February, 2005 - 8:29pm
Additional contributions by
Robin McLeodLast updated 26 April, 2006 - 6:04pm
