Genus Leucotabanus

Classification · Explanation of Names · Remarks

Horse Fly - Leucotabanus annulatus - Leucotabanus annulatus - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora))

Infraorder Tabanomorpha

Family Tabanidae (Horse and Deer Flies)

Subfamily Tabaninae (Horse Flies)

Genus Leucotabanus

Explanation of Names

Greek leukos (λευκος)- "white, bright" + Latin tabanus- "horsefly, gadfly"

Remarks

Genus 5 (of 7) in the Tribe: Diachlorini (which is Tribe 1 of the Subfamily: Tabaninae).

There are only 2 species in this genus: L. ambiguus and L. annulatus. The first species is found only in Arizona while the second is more widespread: Delaware to Kansas, s to Florida and Texas.

L. annulatus is a small (10 mm) tabanid that is best recognized by its general appearance. Females are brown tabanids but are rarely seen as they are crepuscular and nocturnal in their feeding habits. There is great sexual dimorphism; males are covered in long white hairs. Lynette has a superp image of a male (photo #10126).

Larval habitat: decomposing hardwood logs, rot holes in trees.

L. ambiguus is a larger species (15-18 mm), flying from April to September in Arizona. Larvae inhabit rot holes in living trees, growing along streams, that are inhabited by a large dampwood termite.

Contributed by Tony-2 on 17 February, 2005 - 3:31pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz
Last updated 3 September, 2006 - 1:35am

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