STRUCTURE OF BLOOD-SUCKING HORSE-FLY FAUNA IN AGROECOSYSTEMS OF THE CENTRAL NON-BLACK EARTH ZONE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The aim of our work is to study structural changes in the species composition of blood-sucking dipterans in various biotopes of agrocenoses. It is established that the structure of the fauna of the blood-sucking Tabanidae is determined by abiotic (moisture, illumination, available shelters) and biotic (concentration of feeders) factors. One of the most important environmental factors that attract horseflies to agrocenoses is high density of farm animals that feed these insects. On lowland pastures, due to sufficient moisture, high light intensity and sun warming, conditions are favorable for habitation of adult horseflies. The ecological conditions of the adult horseflies habitation on dry pastures due to greater dryness, strong sun warming, lack of shelter and strong wind negatively affect the total number of horseflies. The ecological conditions of the adult horseflies habitation in the by-farm territories are less favorable. There is a tendency to reduction of the share of taiga species in the zoogeographic structure of the horsefly fauna (from 9 to 6 species over the past 10 years) and forest-steppe faunal complex (from 7 to 6 species). At the same time, the total average number of female horseflies attacking animals in various biotopes of agrocenoses of the central Non-Black Earth Zone has remained almost unchanged.

Discovery of a Novel Flavivirus (Flaviviridae) From the Horse Fly, Tabanus rufidens (Diptera: Tabanidae): The Possible Coevolutionary Relationships Between the Classical Insect-Specific Flaviviruses and Host Dipteran Insects

Tabanid flies (Tabanidae: Diptera) are common hematophagous insects known to transmit some pathogens mechanically or biologically to animals; they are widely distributed throughout the world. However, no tabanid-borne viruses, except mechanically transmitted viruses, have been reported to date. In this study, we conducted RNA virome analysis of several human-biting tabanid species in Japan, to discover and characterize viruses associated with tabanids. A novel flavivirus was encountered during the study in the Japanese horse fly, Tabanus rufidens (Bigot, 1887). The virus was detected only in T. rufidens, but not in other tabanid species, and as such was designated Tabanus rufidens flavivirus (TrFV). TrFV could not be isolated using a mammalian cell line and showed a closer phylogenetic relationship to the classical insect-specific flaviviruses (cISFs) rather than the vertebrate-infecting flaviviruses (VIFs), suggesting that it is a novel member of the cISFs. The first discovery of a cISF from Brachycera provides new insight into the evolutionary history and dynamics of flaviviruses.

Esenbeckia (Esenbeckia) auribrunnea n. sp. (Diptera: Tabanidae) from the Amazon, with a key to the Neotropical species of the subgenus

We describe a new species of horse fly, Esenbeckia (Esenbeckia) auribrunnea n. sp. from Rondônia (Brazil) and Vaupés (Colombia), including diagnoses, distributional records, measurements of body and head, photographs in dorsal, lateral and ventral views, and illustrations of genitalia of a female paratype. In addition, we presented an updated and modified key to species in the subgenus described in the last 23 years based on Wilkerson & Fairchild’s (1983) key: E. hirsutipalpus Wilkerson & Fairchild, from Mexico, and E. gracilipalpis Chaney & Hall, from Bolivia; E. griseipleura Chainey & Hall, from Bolivia; E. peruviana Burger, from Peru; and E. rafaeli Limeira-de-Oliveira, from Maranhão state, Brazil. The species E. diaphana (Schiner) from Colombia, and E. distinguenda Lutz & Castro from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are not included with justifications.

Horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) collected in Central African Republic, Gabon and Liberia with comments on their updated distribution

A zoogeographical review summarized the current distribution of 28 morphologically determined horse fly species recently collected in three Western Africa countries. In Malaise trap collections, the family Tabanidae was represented by three subfamilies, Pangoniinae, Chrysopsinae and Tabaninae (tribes Philolichini, Chrysopsini, Tabanini and Haematopotini), and six genera: Philoliche Wiedemann, 1828 (1 species), Chrysops Meigen, 1803 (3 specis), Ancala Enderlein, 1922 (2 species), Euancala Enderlein, 1922 (1 species), Tabanus Linnaeus, 1758 (13 species) and Haematopota Meigen, 1803 (8 species). Information contained in the principal publication The Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical Region 1980 is complemented by newly published studies on horse flies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Diversity and seasonality of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Uruguay

Horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) are hematophagous insects that cause direct and indirect losses in livestock production and are important vectors of pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity and seasonality of horse fly species at an experimental farm in Tacuarembó and the diversity of species in different departments of Uruguay. For 20 months, systematic collections were performed using Nzi and Malaise traps in two different environments at the experimental farm. Temperature, humidity and rainfall were recorded using a local climatological station. In addition, nonsystematic collections were made at farms located in the departments of Paysandú, Tacuarembó and Colonia. A total of 3,666 horse flies were collected, allowing the identification of 16 species. Three species were recorded for the first time in Uruguay: Dasybasis ornatissima (Brèthes), Dasybasis missionum (Macquart), and Tabanus aff. platensis Brèthes. A species that had not been previously taxonomically described was identified (Tabanus sp.1). In the systematic captures, the most abundant species were Tabanus campestris Brèthes, T. aff. platensis and D. missionum, representing 77.6% of the collected specimens. The environment was an important factor related to the abundance of horse flies, as well as the mean temperature. The horse fly season in Tacuarembó started in September and ended in May, with three evident peaks, the most important one during summer. No horse flies were caught during winter. Variations in the prevalence of species in the different departments were observed, indicating the need to carry out new sampling efforts in different areas.

First record of Leptus sp. (Latreille) (Acari: Erythraeidae) parasitizing horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae) from Marambaia Island, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This scientific note refers to the first record of a larvae of mite of genus Leptus (Acari: Erythraeidae) found parasitizing a specimen of horsefly (Diptera: Tabanidae) on Marambaia Island, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Primeiro registro de Leptus sp. (Latreille) (Acari: Erythraeidae) parasitando mutuca (Diptera: Tabanidae) da Ilha da Marambaia, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, BrasilResumo. Esta nota científica se refere ao primeiro registro de uma larva de ácaro do gênero Leptus (Acari: Erythraeidae) encontrada parasitando um espécime de mutuca(Diptera: Tabanidae) na Ilha de Marambaia, Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

The Tabanidae of the Mitaraka expedition, with an updated check list of French Guiana (Diptera)

This paper documents the horse fly fauna collected in lowland rainforest in the southwesternmost part of French Guiana (Mitaraka). During this “Our Planet Revisited” survey nine tabanid species were recorded from French Guiana for the first time: Chrysops ecuadorensis Lutz, C. incisus Macquart, Catachlorops amazonicus Henriques & Gorayeb, Chlorotabanus flagellatus Krolow & Henriques, Cryptoylus cauri Stone, Phaeotabanus phaeopterus Fairchild, Philipotabanus stigmaticalis (Kröber), Stypommisa captiroptera (Kröber) and Tabanus amapaensis Fairchild. An updated check list of Tabanidae of French Guiana is presented, including 79 species and one unidentified Chrysops.