Other Common Names
Bulldog Flies, Clegs, Yellow Flies of the Dismal Swamp, Greenheads, Gad Fly, Copper Heads (see comment at bottom)
Explanation of Names
Family is named for genus
Tabanus.
Numbers
Arnett
(1) lists 350 species.
For a list of species in North America, see
Nearctica.com.
Identification
Medium to large flies, females take blood, and some are pests. Typical characteristics:
stoutly built flies with large squamae (scales above the
halteres, also called
calypters);
feet with 3 pads (as opposed to 2);
3rd antennal segment elongated, clearly made up of several fused parts;
3rd antennal segment with a prominent tooth at base in some groups
wing veins R4 and R5 fork to form a large 'Y' across the wing tip.
Photos illustrating these characters...
3rd antennal segment structure
wing venation
tarsal pads
Range
Worldwide, and throughout North America
Habitat
Adults wide ranging; larvae resticted to wetlands including sea shore
Season
All year round in Florida, Summer further north
Food
Immatures mainly carnivorous. Adults feed on flower nectar. Females (but not males) suck vertebrate blood.
Life Cycle
Maybe several years in larval stage.
Remarks
NA Tabanidae are further classified as follows (of little or no concern, it's just a book-keeping exercise to organize images):
SF1 PANGONIINAE
.... T1 Pangoniini
........ G1 Apatolestes, 13 spp.
........ G2 Asaphomyia, 2 spp.
........ G3 Brennania, 2 spp.
........ G4 Esenbeckia, 4 spp.
........ G5 Pegasomyia, 2 spp.
........ G6 Stonemyia, 6 spp.
.... T2 Scionini
........ G1 Goniops, 1 sp.
SF2 CHRYSOPSINAE
.... T1 Bouvieromyiini
........ G1 Merycomyia, 2 spp.
.... T2 Chrysopsini
........ G1 Silvius, 12 taxa (11 spp. 1ssp.)
........ G2 Chrysops, 84 taxa (83 spp. 1 ssp.)
........ G3 Neochrysops, 1 sp.
SF3 TABANINAE
.... T1 Diachlorini
........ G1 Diachlorus, 1 sp.
........ G2 Anacimas, 2 spp.
........ G3 Bolbodimyia, 1 sp.
........ G4 Chlorotabanus, 1 sp.
........ G5 Leucotabanus, 2 sp.
........ G6 Microtabanus, 1 sp.
........ G7 Stenotabanus, 6 sp.
.... T2 Haematopotini
........ G1 Haematopota, 5 spp.
.... T3 Tabanini
........ G1 Tabanus, 108 taxa (107 spp. 1 ssp.)
........ G2 Agkistrocerus, 2 spp.
........ G3 Atylotus, 14 spp.
........ G4 Hamatabanus, 5 spp.
........ G5 Hybomitra, 55 spp.
........ G6 Whitneyomia, 1 sp.
Print References
Burger, J.F. 1995. Catalog of Tabanidae (Diptera) of North America north of Mexico. Contributions on Entomology, International. Vol 1. Number 1. 100pp.
