Richness, endemism and seasonality of horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Forests of the Equatorial Pacific Region of Ecuador

Abstract

The Equatorial Pacific Region (EPR) in Ecuador is characterized by high rates of endemism, vegetation diversity, and rapid loss of vegetation cover due to anthropogenic pressures. In this study, general ecological aspects of the Tabanidae family, including richness, endemism, and seasonality, were evaluated. Analyses reveal that approximately 42% of the species recorded for Ecuador are present in the EPR, and out of the 84 species cataloged in the EPR, 6 are endemic, representing an endemism of 7.14%. Furthermore, it was established that tabanid populations in a coastal dry forest significantly increased their population density during the dry season, while decreasing during the wet season. These results provide an initial foundation that can be applied to conservation and public health aspects for future research.