Tabanus Bromius Research Articles

Nuevas aportaciones de tábanos (Diptera, Tabanidae) para la fauna balear

In order to update the information on horseflies in the Balearic Islands, five sites in Mallorca were sampled in 2022 and 2023 with traps and sweep netting. A total of 479 specimens belonging to five species were identified: Hybomitra expollicata (Pandellé, 1883), Tabanus autumnalis Linnaeus, 1761, Tabanus bromius Linnaeus, 1758, Tabanus flavofemoratus Strobl 1908 and Tabanus miki Brauer, 1880. The former species represents the first record of this genus for the Balearic Islands. In addition, new Balearic records of T. flavofemoratus and T. miki are also provided. With these new contributions, the horsefly fauna in Mallorca comprises a total of nine species.

The first lumpy skin disease outbreak in cattle in Kazakhstan

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an emerging trans-boundary viral disease of cattle originating from the African continent. Here, we describe the first LSD outbreak reported in the Republic of Kazakhstan in July 2016, as well as associated clinical manifestations of the disease, diagnostic methods, and control measures taken to combat further spread of the pathogen. To determine the cause of the disease, samples were taken from sick and dead animals, as well as from insects and ticks. LSDV DNA was detected by PCR in all samples from dead animals and ticks (Dermacentor marginatus and Hyalomma asiaticum), in 14.29% of samples from horseflies (Tabanus bromius), and in one of the samples from two Stomoxys calcitrans flies. The reproductive LSD virus was isolated from organs of dead cattle and insects in the culture of LT and MDBK cells. The virus accumulated in cell cultures of LT and MDBK at the level of the third passage with titers in the range of 5.5–5.75 log 10 TCID50/cm3.During the outbreak, the number of affected cattle within an epidemiological unit reached 459 cattle out of 3557 registered susceptible cattle, with 12.90% morbidity and 0.96% mortality. This manuscript presents the epidemiological situation; the diagnosis; the control measures, including mass vaccination; and the stamping out campaign.

Studies on the Determination of Ectoparasites and the Prevalence Rate in Cattle in İzmir, Aydın and Muğla Regions.

The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence rates of ectoparasites (external parasites) seen in cattle in Muğla, Aydın and İzmir regions. For ectoparasite screening, a total of 1,353 cattle breeds from Muğla, Aydın and İzmir regions were included in the study. Ectoparasite samples were collected with the help of hand, forceps, comb and scalpel, brought to the laboratory in plastic containers containing 70% alcohol and examined under a microscope. In the study, 191 (14.12%) of 1,353 cattle were infested with external parasites. Of the cattle, 138 (72.25%) ticks, 24 (12.57%) lice, 9 (4.71%) tabanid, 8 (4.19%) hippoboscid, 7 (3.66%) fleas and 5 (2.62%) mites were detected. Accordingly, 4 tick species in cattle Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma detritum, Rhipicephalus turanicus, 4 lice species (Bovicola bovis, Linognathus vituli, Solenopotes capillatus, Haematopinus quadripertusus ), 1 mite species (Chorioptes bovis), 2 flea species (Ctenocephalides canis, Ctenocephalides felis), 1 hippoboscid fly species (Hippobosca equina) ve 3 tabanid fly species (Tabanus bromius, Tabanus exclusus, Philipomyia aprica) diagnosed. The presence of external parasites varied depending on the frequency of antiparasitic use in cattle.

The horseflies fauna diversity (Diptera: Tabanidae) in the habitats along the Mura river in Međimurje, Croatia

From May to September 2022, in the habitats along the Mura River, 1295 horseflies were sampled, classified into two subfamilies, six genera, and 21 species. Seven new records of horseflies were recorded for the first time in the researched area. Newly recorded species are: Tabanus bovinus, Tabanus cordiger, Tabanus sudeticus, Heptatoma pellucens, Haematopota italica, Haematopota scutellata, Haematopota subcylindrica. The species Haematopota pluvialis is the most abundant species, accounting for 60.07% of all sampled horseflies. Tabanus bromius followed with 21.23%, while the other 19 horseflies account for 18.7%. 18 species of horseflies belonged to the boreal-Eurasian type of fauna, two belonged to the Mediterranean type of fauna, i.e. the southern European subtype, while one species belonged to the Afro-Eurasian-arid type of fauna. In the collected sample of horseflies, 33 males classified into 10 species were recorded, while all other collected horseflies were females (1262 specimens) classified into 20 species. The greatest similarity of the horseflies fauna was recorded between the localities Križovec and Goričan, 81.81%. 17 species of horseflies were sampled with a modified Manitoba trap (the so-called canopy trap), and 14 species were sampled with an oil or liquid trap. The largest number of horsefly specimens (59.07%) was sampled in the month of July, while the least horseflies were sampled in September (0.15%). The most abundant species, Tabanus bromius and Haematopota pluvialis, recorded their highest peaks of abundance in July. The longest flight period lasting five months (from May to September) was recorded only for Haematopota pluvialis. Tabanus bromius was represented in all 11 localities, while the species Haematopota pluvialis was represented in 10 localities, as well as the species Chrysops viduatus. Based on the earlier research conducted in 2011 and current research of the horseflies fauna along the Mura river in Međimurje, 22 taxa of horseflies (21 species and 1 subspecies) classified into six genera were identified.

Diversity and abundance of tabanids in Northern Spain

Tabanids (Diptera: Tabanidae) are large haematophagous flies that cause both direct (by biting nuisance) and indirect (primarily by mechanical transmission of diseases) damage to host species. Research studies on this family have received little attention in some parts of Europe. Our aims were to characterise the species richness, abundance, and peak of activity of tabanid fly species in a region of Northern Spain. Home-made canopy traps, sweep nets, and Malaise traps were employed for the collection of tabanids across four cattle farms, two equestrian centres, and two golf courses during a 3-month period in the summer of 2020. A total of 300 specimens of 27 tabanid species belonging to eight genera were identified. The most prevalent species were Haematopota pluvialis (23.3%), Tabanus eggeri (20.0%), and Tabanus bromius (8.0%). The former species was recorded biting humans and therefore should be considered of relevance to public health. Tabanids were more diverse and abundant in scrubland and grazing pastures [relative abundance (RA) = > 10%; species richness (S) = 8-12; Shannon-Index (H´) = 1.5 - 2.1] compared to crop landscapes (RA = < 1%; S = 0-1; H´ = 0) according to canopy traps. The tabanid population dynamics was determined to be short, with the greatest abundance and diversity concentrated in mid-late July. This study updates the checklist of this Diptera group in the Northern Spain from nine known extant species to 31 species, providing the first data on the summer peaks of activity of tabanids for this region.

The Effectiveness of Malaise Traps, H-Traps, and Sticky Traps for Collecting Horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae)

The Effectiveness of Malaise Traps, H-Traps, and Sticky Traps for Collecting Horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Tabanidae (Insecta: Diptera) Fauna of Kırıkkale Province

The article presents the horsefly fauna (Diptera: Tabanidae) of the Kırıkkale province, Turkey. During the active periods in 2019 and 2020 a total of 2908 horseflies representing 40 species and classified in 3 subfamily. 36 species of these 40 sample are first record from Kırıkkale. The most common subfamily is Tabaninae represented with 34 species, followed by the subfamily Pangoninae – 1 and Chrysopsinae - 5 species, respectively. Species collected in pastures, highlands, forestlands, rural and urban areas around Kırıkkale province with Malaise and Nzi traps which were baited with 1-octen-3-ol. Worldwide distribution of the collected species is also given. Species except the Tabanus bromius Lınnaeus, 1758, Haematopota kemali SZILADY, 1923, Tabanus spectabilis LOEW, 1858 and Tabanus regularis JAENNICKE, 1866 are firstly recorded from Kırıkkale.

Lumpy skin disease in Kazakhstan

This study describes the registration of the first cases of lumpy skin disease in July 2016 in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the rural district of Makash, Kurmangazinsky district of Atyrau region, 459 cattle fell ill and 34 died (morbidity 12.9% and mortality 0.96%). To determine the cause of the disease, samples were taken from sick and dead animals, as well as from insects and ticks. LSDV DNA was detected by PCR in all samples from dead animals and ticks (Dermacentor marginatus and Hyalomma asiaticum), in 14.29% of samples from horseflies (Tabanus bromius), and in one of the samples from two Stomoxys calcitrans flies. The reproductive LSD virus was isolated from organs of dead cattle and insects in the culture of LT and MDBK cells. The virus accumulated in cell cultures of LT and MDBK at the level of the third passage with titers in the range of 5.5–5.75 log 10 TCID50/cm3. Sequencing of the GPCR gene allowed us to identify this virus as a lumpy skin disease virus.

Do the Stripes on Three-Dimensional Models Overcome the Odor Signals in Tabanids Landing Choice?

Information about the important factors in tabanid flies visual orientation to hosts has been largely derived from experimental modifications of visual traps and decoys. In the present study performed in wood pasture (Hästhult), southern Sweden, three-dimensional striped models resembling the shape of Zebra, Bongo, Kudu and four control models of different homogenous colors (black, white, reddish-brown and brown) were baited with acetone and aged cow urine in order to test the behavioral preferences in terms of visual and olfactory stimuli in host-seeking tabanids. Attraction of tabanid flies to these models (3D) was high, possibly due to the greater visibility from several directions and also from a greater distance. Vision is important in activating, orienting tabanid flies to the host, as well as for their decision whether and where to land. This research revealed that the visual cues such as stripes on striped models became increasingly important in directing tabanids landing and searching behavior at close range. Likewise, the tabanids approach to attractants sources was overridden by visual cues (stripes) at greater extent compared with the more attractiveness to homogenous colors on control models. Moreover, the visual stimuli (stripes) played also a supplementary role, modifying the selection of landing area on striped model (land on homogenous color part in Bongo and Kudu) once alighting responses were initiated by odor. Tabanid species, especially Haematopota pluvialis and Tabanus bromius exhibited a preference for landing mostly on reddish-brown control model when given the choice of other colors. However, the complex interaction of attractants and visual cues (stripes, color, shape) in the later stages of resource location, remains relatively little studied in all species of tabanids.

Incompletely observed: niche estimation for six frequent European horsefly species (Diptera, Tabanoidea, Tabanidae)

BackgroundMore than 170 species of tabanids are known in Europe, with many occurring only in limited areas or having become very rare in the last decades. They continue to spread various diseases in animals and are responsible for livestock losses in developing countries. The current monitoring and recording of horseflies is mainly conducted throughout central Europe, with varying degrees of frequency depending on the country. To the detriment of tabanid research, little cooperation exists between western European and Eurasian countries.MethodsFor these reasons, we have compiled available sources in order to generate as complete a dataset as possible of six horsefly species common in Europe. We chose Haematopota pluvialis, Chrysops relictus, C. caecutiens, Tabanus bromius, T. bovinus and T. sudeticus as ubiquitous and abundant species within Europe. The aim of this study is to estimate the distribution, land cover usage and niches of these species. We used a surface-range envelope (SRE) model in accordance with our hypothesis of an underestimated distribution based on Eurocentric monitoring regimes.ResultsOur results show that all six species have a wide range in Eurasia, have a broad climatic niche and can therefore be considered as widespread generalists. Areas with modelled habitat suitability cover the observed distribution and go far beyond these. This supports our assumption that the current state of tabanid monitoring and the recorded distribution significantly underestimates the actual distribution. Our results show that the species can withstand extreme weather and climatic conditions and can be found in areas with only a few frost-free months per year. Additionally, our results reveal that species prefer certain land-cover environments and avoid other land-cover types.ConclusionsThe SRE model is an effective tool to calculate the distribution of species that are well monitored in some areas but poorly in others. Our results support the hypothesis that the available distribution data underestimate the actual distribution of the surveyed species.

Efficiency of six different octenol-baited traps for collecting horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae).

The efficiency and the potential species preference for six different horsefly trap types was studied. A total of 2401 horseflies were collected during this study. The most effective trap was the modified box trap with (27.9%), followed by the Nzi trap with (24.5%), Malaise trap (Townes design 1972) with (22.5)%, canopy trap with (17.9%), modified small canopy trap with (7.0%) and Malaise trap (Townes design 1962) with (0.2%). The Nzi and Malaise trap (Townes design 1972) did not differ significantly in the number of collected horseflies. The comparison of all other traps revealed significant differences in the number of collected horseflies. Tabanus bromius was the most abundant species with (58.6%) of the collected sample. The modified box trap was the most successful in collecting of T. bromius, while the Malaise trap (Townes design 1972) was the most successful in collecting the species Haematopota pluvialis, T. maculicornis and T. tergestinus. This study demonstrated that different trap designs influenced the quantity, species and taxonomic diversity of horseflies that were collected. Variables in the trap design included cloth type and colour and size and shape of trap. More detailed studies should be done to determine which factor or factors are most significant.

Seasonal Activity of the Horse Flies (Diptera, Tabanidae) from the Central Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria

The seasonal activity of the tabanids (Diptera: Tabanidae) was studied from May to September (2010-2011) in three localities on the territory of the Central Balkan Mountains. A total of 2232 specimens from 25 tabanid species and 8 genera were collected and processed. The first horse flies emerge in the first half of May and the last specimens were collected until mid-September. The tabanids reached their highest peak abundance in the first half of July. The most abundant species of the tabanid assemblages in the Central Balkan Mountains were Tabanus tergestinus Egg. (56.73 %), Tabanus bromius L. (12.71 %) and Haematopota pluvialis L. (8.87 %). The largest number of specimens of T. tergestinus was collected during the peak of the seasonal abundance of horse flies on the territory of the Central Balkan Mountains.

Horsefly object-directed polarotaxis is mediated by a stochastically distributed ommatidial subtype in the ventral retina

The ventral compound eye of many insects contains polarization-sensitive photoreceptors, but little is known about how they are integrated into visual functions. In female horseflies, polarized reflections from animal fur are a key stimulus for host detection. To understand how polarization vision is mediated by the ventral compound eye, we investigated the band-eyed brown horsefly Tabanus bromius using anatomical, physiological, and behavioral approaches. Serial electron microscopic sectioning of the retina and single-cell recordings were used to determine the spectral and polarization sensitivity (PS) of photoreceptors. We found 2 stochastically distributed subtypes of ommatidia, analogous to pale and yellow of other flies. Importantly, the pale analog contains an orthogonal analyzer receptor pair with high PS, formed by an ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive R7 and a UV- and blue-sensitive R8, while the UV-sensitive R7 and green-sensitive R8 in the yellow analog always have low PS. We tested horsefly polarotaxis in the field, using lures with controlled spectral and polarization composition. Polarized reflections without UV and blue components rendered the lures unattractive, while reflections without the green component increased their attractiveness. This is consistent with polarotaxis being guided by a differential signal from polarization analyzers in the pale analogs, and with an inhibitory role of the yellow analogs. Our results reveal how stochastically distributed sensory units with modality-specific division of labor serve as separate and opposing input channels for visual guidance.

Molecular detection of Megatrypanum trypanosomes intabanid flies.

Trypanosomes of the subgenus Megatrypanum have been isolated from many mammalian hosts around the world. They are usually non-pathogenic, although they may confuse the parasitological diagnosis of trypanosomosis. Additionally, Trypanosoma theileri has been associated with disease in cattle. Megatrypanum trypanosomes are considered to be transmitted by different arthropods, including tabanids. However, little is known about the potential vectors of Megatrypanum trypanosomes in different parts of the world. The present study reports on the detection of Megatrypanum trypanosomes in Heamatopota pluvialis, Tabanus bromius, Tabanus maculicornis and Tabanus distinguendus in Poland. It also discusses the possible role of these tabanids in the transmission of Megatrypanum trypanosomes.

Molecular Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Blood-Sucking Flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Poland.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a pathogen of veterinary and medical importance. It is the causative agent of tick-borne fever (TBF) in ruminants (also known as bovine or ovine granulocytic anaplasmosis), and of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) in humans. In Europe, A. phagocytophilum is transmitted by Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus 1758) ticks. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA in blood-sucking flies belonging to the Tabanidae family using molecular methods. It represents the first detection of this pathogen in Haematopota pluvialis (Linnaeus 1758), Tabanus bromius (Linnaeus 1758), and Tabanus distinguendus (Verrall 1909) in Europe.

Horse flies and their seasonal abundance in El Tarf Province of northeastern Algeria.

The horse flies of El Tarf Province, northeastern Algeria comprise 15 species within two subfamilies (Chrysopsinae and Tabaninae) belonging to five genera (Atylotus, Chrysops, Dasyrhamphis, Haematopota, and Tabanus). The genera Chrysops, Dasyrhamphis, and Haematopota are represented by two species for each, while the genera Atylotus and Tabanus are represented by four and five species, respectively. Seasonal abundance was assessed from mid-March until the end of September, 2017 for the trapped species. Haematopota pluvialis and Tabanus autumnalis appeared in April and lasted until September with a peak in May. Atylotus agrestis appeared in May with the highest density and lasted until September. Atylotus fulvus, Atylotus kroberi, and Haematopota italica emerged in April with peaks in May, while Chrysops flavipes appeared in March, reaching its peak in May and June, declining in July, and disappearing thereafter. Atylotus flavoguttatus, Chrysops mauritanicus, and Dasyrhamphis tomentosus appeared in April with a peak in June, then disappearing in August. Tabanus nemoralis started to appear in April with a peak in May and disappearance after July. Dasyrhamphis algirus, Tabanus bromius, and Tabanus eggeri started to appear in May. Both Tabanus eggeri and Dasyrhamphis algirus peaked in June and July, whereas T. eggeri lasted until the end of September. Tabanus tinctus was observed in June with a peak in August and lasted until September.

The impact of land use and climate on tabanid assemblages in Europe

Land use and climate are important drivers of the diversity and abundance of insects. Tabanids (Diptera: Tabanidae) are haematophagous cosmopolitan flies that are pests to humans and livestock as well as mechanical vectors of animal disease agents such as Besnoitia besnoiti and the equine infectious anaemia virus. Given growing concerns about tabanid-borne diseases in Europe, there is a need to assess how land use and climate affect tabanid assemblages on the European scale. To investigate this, we used a dataset including 38 tabanid samples from 7 European countries to determine the geographical distribution of 79 tabanid species, and a dataset restricted to 32 samples from 4 countries to examine the relationship between tabanid assemblages and climatic and land-use variables. We also investigated the impact of the sampling method on findings. On the European scale, a non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination revealed that tabanid assemblages were spatially ordered along a marked gradient from Eastern to Western Europe. A model-based analysis of the multivariate tabanid abundance data showed that both climatic and landscape variables, but not sampling method, had a significant additive effect on mean abundance. Using linear mixed-effects models, we found that the Shannon diversity index decreased from 2.5 to 0.5 when the percentage of pastureland in a 2-km buffer around the sampling site increased from 0 to 80% and the annual mean temperature decreased from 16 to 4°C, while Pielou’s measure of species evenness decreased from 0.94 to 0.18 with an increase in the percentage of pastureland. We found that the community proportion of the two most common European species, Tabanus bromius and Haematopota pluvialis, was significantly associated with the sampling method. Our results indicate that the distribution and incidence of tabanid-borne diseases may be heavily influenced by changes in land use and climate and highlight the importance of environmental changes on insect vector populations.

Comparative efficiency of traps for horse fly (Diptera: Tabanidae) survey in riparian oak-ash forests in Danube floodplain

The objective of this work was to evaluate the relative trap efficiency of the three modified traps baited with 1-octen-3-ol as attractant, Box, Nzi and Canopy, for horse fly (Tabanidae) survey. Nine traps (three traps per trap type) were tested in 3 × 3 Latin square designs during summer 2011 in riparian oak-ash forests in the Danube floodplain of Croatia. Overall, the traps caught 1,986 specimens of 11 horse flies species during the study period. The most abundant species caught was Tabanus bromius (58%), followed by Tabanus tergestinus (21%), Tabanus maculicornis (16%), Tabanus sudeticus (2%), Atylotus loewianus (1%) and Tabanus autumnalis (1%). Both the Box traps and the Nzi traps had significantly greater catch efficiencies than the Canopy traps (βbox = 2.47, X2 = 65.48, df = 1, P < 0.001 and βnzi = 1.54, X2 = 25.12, df = 1, P < 0.001, respectively). Nzi traps had a catch rate 4.65 (95% CI: 2.55, 8.48) times greater than Canopy traps and Box traps had a catch rate 11.77 (95% CI: 6.48, 21.39) times greater than Canopy traps. Based on Shannon-Wiener diversity indices Nzi traps were better suited for diversity survey and had higher (H' = 1.33) indices than Box (H' = 1.08) or Canopy traps (H' = 1.00).

Field studies of the efficacy of some commercially available essential oils against horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae)

AbstractThe repellent activity of commercially available essential oils from the plants Cymbopogon winterianus, Mentha piperita, Litsea citrata and Lavandula angustifolia against female horse flies (Tabanidae) is not yet known, and it was studied in Eastern Croatia. In the absence of standard protocols for determining repellency in field studies, five canopy traps baited with 1-octen-3-ol were used, four of which were protected with essential oils. One canopy trap was always without any essential oil and used as negative control. The chi-square analyses of the trapping data for the canopy traps revealed that the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia significantly reduced the number of collected horse flies in comparison to those collected in the canopy traps protected with the other essential oils. Significantly less specimens of Tabanus bromius were collected from the canopy traps protected with Lavandula angustifolia when compared with the traps protected with the other essential oils. However, the numbers of females of Tabanus tergestinus and Haematopota pluvialis collected from the canopy traps protected with all four essential oils did not differ significantly. A total of 93.6% of horse flies collected belonged to these three species. Tabanus bromius was the most abundant species with 76.5% in the samples collected by canopy traps. Finally, the traps protected with the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia collected 0.50 times less horse flies than unprotected traps, whereas traps protected with oils of Mentha piperita, Cymbopogon winterianus, and Litsea citrata collected 0.19, 0.15 and 0.04 times less horse flies, respectively, than did unprotected traps.

A study on bloodsucking Tabanidae and Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera) attacking horses and cows in Northern Scania, Sweden

&lt;p class="jbls"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;In Sweden, during summer, grazing horses and cows are frequently exposed to bloodsucking flies. This study has been performed in the geographical areas of Gundrastorp (pasture) and Kämlehöjalt (wood pasture), in northern Scania, Sweden where the occurrences of biting flies may represent a scourge for domesticated animals. The distribution of biting flies, Tabanidae and &lt;em&gt;Stomoxys calcitrans&lt;/em&gt; (L) (known as stable flies) was studied by insect trapping using two Nzi traps, one for each habitat. No attractants have been used in order to improve trap capture rate. This research pointed out that tabanid and stable flies did not show any preference between the two landscape types or between hosts where they get their blood meal. Capture rates increased on days with high temperature. There were also differences in number between all types of weather for both tabanid and stable flies. In terms of species activity in all types of weather, 13 species of Tabanidae displayed some differences between them in each habitat. In the genus Tabanus, &lt;em&gt;Tabanus bromius&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Tabanus maculicornis&lt;/em&gt; showed similar patterns with regards to daily activity in different types of weather, being followed by &lt;em&gt;Haematopota pluvialis &lt;/em&gt;and&lt;em&gt; Hybomitra bimaculata&lt;/em&gt;. Moreover, with regards to the number of male and female tabanids collected in Nzi traps, a higher difference for each area was found. As a parallel survey, the landing behavior of each genus of collected tabanids on blue and black colors before going into Nzi traps showed the same variation during the experiments. Nzi traps set near the horses and cows have shown high efficiency in capturing biting flies, allowing animals to graze somewhat undisturbed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;