Biology of the Major Species of Horse Flies of Central New York

Abstract

Seasonal distr. studies showed the major spp. to be.: Tabanus lasiopthalmus. T. quinquevittatus. and T. sulcifrons in the order of their seasonal appearance. The lower threshold of adult activity was around 70F; with temps.above 90[degree] activity seemed to be retarded. Within the 2 extremes wind movement affected fly activity more than any other factor. Unfed flies and fully engorged flies were weighed and showed the avg. blood meal of T. quinauevittatus to be 71 mg. or .074 cc. of blood. For T. sulcifrons it was 344 mg. or .359 cc. of blood. By drying pasture sod on a horizontally held wire mesh screen it was possible to collect large numbers of larvae in a relatively short time. Using this method it was possible to locate the major breeding areas of T. quinquevittatus, the most abundant sp. in this area. Soil containing over 50% moisture as determined on oven dry basis yielded the greatest numbers of larvae.