Tabanus punctifer, commonly known as the western horse fly, is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae.[2][3] This species of horse fly is approximately 20.5 mm (0.8 in) long.[4] They are typically found throughout the southern and western parts of the United States. They can be found between Utah and Mexico, and between California and Texas.[4] The thorax is covered with long hairs that give it a creamy white color, while the abdomen is completely black.[4] Much like other horse fly species, the Tabanus punctifer female requires a blood meal for the development of their eggs.[5] Females will bite horses, livestock, and humans, making them vectors of disease for pathogens and parasites.[5]
| Tabanus punctifer | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Tabanidae |
| Subfamily: | Tabaninae |
| Tribe: | Tabanini |
| Genus: | Tabanus |
| Species: | T. punctifer
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| Binomial name | |
| Tabanus punctifer Osten Sacken, 1876[1]
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Distribution
editCanada, United States.
References
edit- ^ Osten Sacken, C.R. (1876). "Prodrome of a monograph of the Tabanidae of the United States. Part II. The genus Tabanus". Memoirs (Boston Society of Natural History). 2: 421–479. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ Moucha, J. (1976). "Horse-flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of the World. Synoptic Catalogue" (PDF). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae Supplements. 7: 1–320. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Burger, J. F. (1995). "Catalog of Tabanidae (Diptera) in North America north of Mexico". International Contributions on Entomology. 1 (1). Associated Publishers: 1–100.
- ^ a b c Goodwin, J. T., & Drees, B. M. (1996). The horse and deer flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of Texas. https://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/sswe/files/2017/06/SWE_S20_P001-140.pdf
- ^ a b Mullen, G. R., & Durden, L. A. (2018). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Elsevier Science & Technology.
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