Tabanus lineola

Fabricius, 1794

striped horse fly

Tabanus lineola, commonly known as the striped , is a biting horse fly to eastern and southern North America. Females are aggressive blood-feeders of humans and livestock, recognized by a pale stripe on the , while males lack this feature, do not bite, and have bare . The has a with developing in saturated sandy soils near water bodies.

Tabanus lineola by (c) Violet T., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Violet T.. Used under a CC-BY license.Tabanus lineola 9326660 by Robb Hannawacker. Used under a CC0 license.Tabanus lineola female by Williston, Samuel Wendell. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tabanus lineola: /tɑːˈbeɪnəs lɪˈniːoʊlə/

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Identification

Females possess a distinct pale stripe on the that males lack. Males have bare without hair, while females have hairy eyes. Females have biting mouthparts; males do not bite.

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Habitat

develop in saturated sandy soils near water margins, including ponds, streams, and marshy areas. occur in vicinity of larval .

Distribution

Eastern and southern United States; Gulf coast of Mexico. Records include Louisiana and Vermont.

Seasonality

Active from spring through fall with peak abundance in late summer.

Diet

Females require blood meals for development and bite humans and livestock. Males feed on nectar only and do not bite.

Life Cycle

(one per year). laid in masses on vegetation overhanging water. Larval development takes 3-4 months with as final in soil. with egg, larval, pupal, and stages.

Behavior

biting activity by females. Persistent biting when seeking blood meals. Strong capability for location. Males do not bite.

Ecological Role

are biting pests of livestock and wildlife. function as or scavengers in soil . Potential mechanical of .

Human Relevance

Significant pest of livestock and humans due to aggressive biting by females.

Similar Taxa

  • Tabanus atratusBoth are large black , but T. atratus lacks the pale abdominal stripe and has distinctively hooked .
  • Tabanus americanusLarger (up to 30 mm) without the pale abdominal stripe characteristic of T. lineola females.

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Sources and further reading