Larvae and Pupae of Some Eastern North American Tabanidae (Diptera)

Abstract

Bionomic and phylogenetic research on the Tabanidae is hampered by an inadequate knowledge of their immature stages, the larvae and (or) pupae of only 154 of the approximately 2000 world species being known. The present study is an attempt to partially rectify this situation in North America where it is almost as acute as elsewhere.By means of hand-searching or using a specially designed sieve and multiple Berlese funnel, larvae were obtained from 219 wetland habitats of various types in Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New Jersey. Many of the larvae were then reared to the adult stage to provide conclusive species identification. During the rearings larval and pupal exuviae were retained and preserved. These together with accurately associated whole preserved larvae and the immatures of several species obtained from other sources were the basis for detailed general descriptions of tabanid larvae and pupae, keys and diagnostic descriptions of these stages as well as descriptive comments on the habitats of the 36 species of Chrysops, 1 Merycomyia, 19 Tabanus, 7 Atylotus, and 18 Hybomitra which are included in the paper. The larvae and pupae of 43 species are described for the first time.In discussing the phylogenetic implications of these larvae and pupae several evolutionary trends and the high degree of concordance between these stages and the adults is pointed out, which lends considerable support to the present classification based solely on adults. The non-alignment of the immatures of some species suggests their improper placement. However, this cannot be proved until the immature stages of many more species covering a broader spectrum of the family are known.Parasitism involving Carinosillus tabanivorus (Hall) (Tachinidae), Villa lateralis Say (Bombyliidae), Diglochis occidentalis Ashm. (Pteromalidae), and Trichopria sp. (Diapriidae) accounted for approximately two per cent of the mortality of reared specimens.

Tabanidae and other Diptera on Camel’s Hump Vermont: Ecological Observations

“…Identification to species could be done with Teskey’s (1969) key to larvae. For maggots and puparia of Muscidae, once found, Skidmore’s (1985) book might help.…”

Community assembly of Diptera following restoration of mined boreal bogs: taxonomic and functional diversity

“…Two species of Canadian Sarcophagidae, Fletcheromyia fletcheri (Aldrich) and Sarcophaga sarraceniae Riley, are indicators of the peatland-restricted pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea (Farkas and Brust 1986) and were found in the three treatments. In the Tabanidae (Teskey 1969, Teskey andBurger 1976), a number of species of Hybomitra Enderlein considered characteristic of bogs were found in our sites: H. minuscula (Hine), H. sodalis (Williston), H. trepida (McDunnough), H. typhus (Whitney) and H. pechumani Teskey and Thomas. Several species of Tabanus L. are associated with peatlands, but only T. novaescotiae Macquart was found in restored and abandoned sites.…”

The Immature Stages of Protodasyapha (Protodasyapha) hirtuosa (Philippi) and their Comparison with the Immature Stages of other Pangoniini (Diptera: Tabanidae: Pangoniinae)

“…The terminology of larvae and pupae follows of Teskey (1969) and Lane (1975). The specimens are deposited in the Instituto de Entomología, immature stages collection.…”

“…Although these larvae and pupae have some characters shared with other Pangoniinae, some characters are unique to the Pangoniini and provide evidence of their monophyletic origin (Teskey 1969).…”