Seasonal abundance and species diversity of Tabanidae in selected areas of Tennessee and some notes on their biologies

A total of 32,545 tabanids in 71 species, 2 subspecies, and 10 genera were collected and identified during a two-year Tennessee study. Seasonal abundance and species diversity data were compiled in the counties of Fayette, Madison, Cumberland, Knox, Blount, and Monroe, The principal collecting tools were 12 modified Manitoba canopy traps supplemented with collections from sticky panel traps, netting from livestock, and overhead netting. Some tabanid larval sampling was done and notes on the biologies of some species were recorded. Five species and one genus are new Tennessee records. The most common Tennessee horse flies were found to be Tabanus quinquevittatus Wiedemann, Hybomitra lasiophthalma (Macquart), Tabanus sparus milleri Whitney, Tabanus pallidescens Philip and Tabanus fulvulus Wiedemann. The most common deer flies were Chrysops callidus Osten Sacken, Chrysops niger Macquart, and Chrysops vittatus vittatus Wiedemann. The tabanid fauna was found to vary greatly among study areas. The greatest species diversity was present in most areas in late June and July.