Chrysops univittatus

Macquart, 1855

One-striped Deer Fly

Chrysops univittatus is a of deer fly in the Tabanidae, commonly known as the One-striped Deer Fly. Females are most abundant in late July and early August in southwestern Quebec. The species is anautogenous, requiring a blood meal for development, and exhibits a single gonotrophic cycle.

Chrysops univittatus by (c) skitterbug, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skitterbug. Used under a CC-BY license.Chrysops univittatus (50206447022) by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chrysops univittatus: //ˈkrɪsɒps juːnɪvɪˈteɪtəs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other Chrysops by the presence of a single prominent longitudinal stripe on the dorsum; specific diagnostic features relative to such as C. atlanticus and C. vittatus require examination of wing venation and abdominal patterning.

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Distribution

Eastern United States and southeastern Canada; confirmed occurrence in Vermont, southwestern Quebec, and surrounding regions.

Seasonality

Peak female abundance occurs in late July and early August in southwestern Quebec.

Diet

Females feed on nectar; blood-feeding on vertebrate occurs for development (anautogeny).

Life Cycle

Anautogenous; only one gonotrophic cycle recorded following ovary dissection. Number of correlates with body size as determined by wing length.

Behavior

Females exhibit nectar-feeding with 73% detected via cold anthrone test; 96% of females contain sperm with no difference between parous and nulliparous individuals.

Ecological Role

serve as potential through nectar feeding; females function as blood-feeding of vertebrates.

Human Relevance

Females bite humans and other vertebrates, causing irritation; specific status not documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

  • Chrysops atlanticusLaboratory studies conducted concurrently; distinguished by different abdominal patterning and preferences.
  • Chrysops vittatusSimilar striped appearance; specific diagnostic differences in stripe configuration and wing markings require expert examination.

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Sources and further reading