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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Tabanomorpha » Horse and Deer Flies (Tabanidae) » Horse Flies (Tabaninae) » Tabanini » Tabanus » Black Horse Fly (Tabanus atratus)

Species Tabanus atratus - Black Horse Fly

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Extremely Giant Fly found in Chatham County central North Carolina, June 11th 430 pm - Tabanus atratus - female Black Horse Fly - Tabanus atratus - male fly - Tabanus atratus Which Tabanus is this? - Tabanus atratus - male horse fly? - Tabanus atratus - female Black Horse Fly - Tabanus atratus - female big black fly - Tabanus atratus - male Fly - Tabanus atratus - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)
Infraorder Tabanomorpha
Family Tabanidae (Horse and Deer Flies)
Subfamily Tabaninae (Horse Flies)
Tribe Tabanini
Genus Tabanus
Species atratus (Black Horse Fly)
Explanation of Names
Tabanus atratus Fabricius 1775
atratus 'clothed in black'(1)
Size
20-28 mm (2) (3); 24 mm (4); (reference missing for earlier size range given here as 20-33 mm)
Identification
Adult black, including wings, or nearly black, brown-purple; larva whitish, banded with black, up to 50 mm(2)
Range
se. Canada to FL-TX & n. Mexico(4); primarily eastern, although recorded throughout US (Long 2001)
Habitat
Very wide range of habitats; generally near aquatic environments (Long 2001). Larvae live "along the margins of ponds and ditches"(5).
Life Cycle
Larvae require two years to complete life cycle(6)(2); adult males short-lived; females survive through fall(6). Eggs laid on vegetation overhanging permanent water(3)
Remarks
prone to attack cattle and other livestock(2), rarely bites people. Can transmit diseases such as surra and anthrax and be a serious problem for livestock (Long 2001)
Internet References
Fact sheet (Long 2001)
Works Cited
1.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.
2.The Common Insects of North America
Lester A. Swan, Charles S. Papp. 1972. Harper & Row.
3.National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America
Arthur V. Evans. 2007. Sterling.
4.The horse and deer flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of Texas
Goodwin and Drees. 1996. 1996. Southwestern Entomological Society.
5.Insects: Their Natural History And Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America
Stephen A. Marshall. 2006. Firefly Books Ltd.
6.National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
Lorus and Margery Milne. 1980. Knopf.
Contributed by A.W. Thomas on 18 May, 2005 - 5:03am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Mike Quinn, v belov, Ken Childs, Arturo Santos
Last updated 5 August, 2023 - 11:54am

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