Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tabanidae; Tabanus ustus. Zambia
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 18-01-2012 00:49
#1
I'm hoping that I've got the family right (I've certainly been bitten by enough that I ought to be able to recognise them), but can't seem to progress any further with any confidence. Can anyone assist?
Place: Chongwe district, Lusaka Province, Zambia.
Habitat: Kitchen window (sic) - area of dry scrub and low-intensity farmland (including livestock).
Date:27/09/2011.
Size:16-18mm
Edited by Will van Niekerk on 06-02-2012 21:01
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 04-02-2012 16:47
#2
Someone out there must like horseflies, surely?
Having said that, it occurs to me that they are perhaps not the most charismatic little fellows in the world, so I suppose I can understand why they might go understudied...
Posted by sd on 05-02-2012 22:10
#3
Hi Will,
Yes horseflies are fascinating. You are correct with
Tabanus. Getting to species level is tricky, there are about one hundred to choose from for the African region. I did initially think
taeniola as a likely candidate as it is the most common and widespread species of the "patterned" subgroup. However, the median triangles seem too sharp, the lower callus not square and the wing seems to have some pigmentation; so it
might be
conspicuus, or something else entirely! I will check.
regards,
Steve
Edited by sd on 05-02-2012 22:34
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 05-02-2012 22:59
#4
Thanks for confirming genus!
I can enlarge most areas of the image quite a bit, and have an image of the underside - would this be of any help?
Will.
Posted by sd on 05-02-2012 23:13
#5
Sure,
1/ enlarge the head for details of the frons (the area between the eyes), palps and antenna
2/ a more dorsal shot of the wings and abdomen
3/colouration underneath of the abdomen sometimes helps
Steve
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 06-02-2012 00:22
#6
So it seems that one of my many failures is not getting pictures of horseflies from above...
Here is the most dorsal shot of the wing:
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 06-02-2012 00:23
#7
And here the best I can give you of the abdomen - largely obscured by the aforementioned wing.
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 06-02-2012 00:24
#8
and from below:
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 06-02-2012 00:25
#9
Head (not great quality) enlarged:
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 06-02-2012 00:27
#10
And finally, palps and co - the best focus I have of them, unfortunately everything else is neatly obscured by the legs...
Will
Edited by Will van Niekerk on 06-02-2012 00:28
Posted by sd on 06-02-2012 13:20
#11
Those are all helpful. I think this is
Tabanus ustus. The sharp median triangles with the oblong-sub laterals of the abdomen plus the slightly infuscated veins should be distinctive. The frons and antenna are consistent as are the pale haired palps, and as is the strongly marked thorax with a thin median line. It is not in Clark's 1968 faunal list for Zambia of 12 Tabanus sp. but it is certainly found in Zimbabwe and therefore to be expected:)
Steve