Atypical case of pattern disruption in sex proportions of Tabanidae collections with malaise traps in ecuadorian forests

Abstract

Male horseflies have low capture rates in Malaise traps, a widely documented pattern observed in numerous ecological studies. We present findings from a specific locality in Ecuador where a departure from this established pattern is observed. In this locality, males accounted for 59.14% of Tabanidae captures. The disruption in capture patterns observed using Malaise traps represents an uncommon feature in the scientific literature and during collections conducted over eight years in Ecuador. Despite the inherent limitations of Malaise traps in capturing male horseflies, it is possible that under specific conditions, such as the presence of optimal aggregation areas for horseflies, Malaise traps may enhance the capture efficiency of males. Additionally, we provide a detailed discussion on the disruption and disparity in capture sex proportions in Tabanidae, commonly reported in the scientific literature. Understanding these aspects of tabanid behavior is essential due to the outbreaks and deaths associated with trypanosomiasis infections in Ecuador.