Diptera.info

Posted by pat_der2003 on 29-02-2016 20:06

Hello,

These diptera were always standing on top of the head of animals standing in water.

September 2015, Pantanal, Mato grosso, Brazil.

Here it was standing on Caiman's head, but could be on Jabiru's head (etc.), bothering those birds.

It seemed to be comon flies at the time ...

May be some kind of Tabanidae ?

Edited by pat_der2003 on 29-02-2016 20:39

Posted by John Carr on 29-02-2016 20:37

They are female Tabanidae; males have larger eyes and do not bite.

Posted by Zeegers on 04-03-2016 13:43

From these pictures, I could not say more (I won't say: get a closeup !).

There is actually an article from 2002 on Tabanidae feeding on crocs in the Amazons.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/mioc/v97n1/4360.pdf
Four species are mentioned there.

It is not Tabanus and it does not look like Stenotabanus.

So possible match would be Phaetabanus nigriflavus.

I know the genus, not the species. Genus could be a match indeed and nigriflavus would not be a bad name for this species.

Theo

Posted by pat_der2003 on 04-03-2016 17:34

Zeegers wrote:
From these pictures, I could not say more (I won't say: get a closeup !).

:D:D:D

Zeegers wrote:
So possible match would be Phaetabanus nigriflavus.

I know the genus, not the species. Genus could be a match indeed and nigriflavus would not be a bad name for this species.

Many Many Thanks for your answer and for the documentation !!! :)

Posted by Keith Bayless on 25-10-2016 20:23

Zeegers wrote:
So possible match would be Phaetabanus nigriflavus.

I know the genus, not the species. Genus could be a match indeed and nigriflavus would not be a bad name for this species.

I have seen this species and I agree Theo's ID looks correct but a closer shot would be great. Thanks for recording this interesting interaction!

Posted by pat_der2003 on 29-05-2017 20:33

Thanks a lot !! ;)

Closer shot wouldn't add information : it is hand shot at 600 mm with a 150-600 mm Tamron in a moving pirogue under schrubs ... No way (for me) to get sharper ... B)

Edited by pat_der2003 on 29-05-2017 20:33