Species Chrysops vittatus

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks

BG1502 D0007 - Chrysops vittatus - female

BG1661-E1819 - Chrysops vittatus - female

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 Chrysopsinae (Deer Flies)

Genus Chrysops

Species vittatus (Chrysops vittatus)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

nothing since 1926

Identification

Yellow abdomen with 4 brownish stripes; wing pattern although similar to many other Deer Fly species is diagnostic.

Range

Nova Scotia to North Dakota, south to northern Florida and Texas

Habitat

Larvae in all wet habitats; adults can be anywhere.

Season

Adults early June to late October, depending on latitude

Food

Females: Blood!

Remarks

Especially abundant and botheresome in the New Brunswick forests. Often a pest species wherever found.

A very similar species found along the coast from Virginia to Florida was once considered a subspecies but is now considered a full species, i.e., Chrysops floridanus

Contributed by Tony-2 on 7 June, 2005 - 4:51pm

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