Tabanidae
Guides
Tabanus catenatus
Chained Horse Fly
Tabanus catenatus is a large horse fly species in the family Tabanidae, measuring 19–25 mm in body length. It is commonly known as the Chained Horse Fly and occurs in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Like other horse flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their blood-feeding behavior, with females requiring blood meals for egg development.
Tabanus conterminus
Tabanus conterminus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, originally described by Walker in 1850. The species is associated with salt marsh habitats in eastern coastal North America. It has been subject to taxonomic revision, with a lectotype designated to clarify its nomenclatural status relative to other coastal horse flies such as Tabanus nigrovittatus.
Tabanus cymatophorus
Tabanus cymatophorus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1876. The species is recognized as valid by major taxonomic databases including GBIF and NCBI, though it was historically listed as a synonym in some sources. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the characteristic large size and biting mouthparts typical of horse flies. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only four documented observations on iNaturalist, suggesting it may be rare, geographically restricted, or underreported.
Tabanus eadsi
Tabanus eadsi is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1962. Like other members of the genus Tabanus, it belongs to a group of large, robust flies known for their biting females and strong flight capabilities. The species is currently recognized as valid by GBIF, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. No iNaturalist observations have been recorded for this species, and published biological information appears to be minimal.
Tabanus equalis
horse fly
Tabanus equalis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Tabanus, which contains numerous biting fly species commonly known as horse flies or deer flies. The species was described by Hine in 1923. As with other horse flies, adults are likely to be robust, medium to large-sized flies with large eyes and piercing-sucking mouthparts adapted for blood-feeding.
Tabanus erythraeus
Tabanus erythraeus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Bigot in 1892. The species has a complex taxonomic history, with Catalogue of Life listing it as a synonym of Tabanus fuscus while GBIF and iNaturalist recognize it as a valid accepted species. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the characteristic large size, robust body, and biting mouthparts typical of horse flies. Very little specific information is available for this particular species in the provided sources.
Tabanus fairchildi
Fairchild's horse fly
Tabanus fairchildi, known as Fairchild's horse fly, is a species of biting fly in the family Tabanidae. The species was described by Stone in 1938. Like other horse flies, adults are likely to be robust, medium to large-sized flies with large compound eyes and biting mouthparts adapted for blood-feeding. The species is recorded from Canada and the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Tabanus fulvicallus
Brown-footed Horse Fly
Tabanus fulvicallus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1931. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the characteristic large size and blood-feeding habits typical of horse flies. The species is recognized by iNaturalist under the accepted name with the common name "Brown-footed Horse Fly," though detailed biological information remains limited. Only three observations are recorded in iNaturalist, indicating it is either rare, undercollected, or restricted in distribution. The Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym, while GBIF treats it as accepted, suggesting some taxonomic uncertainty or recent revalidation.
Tabanus fulvulus
Tabanus fulvulus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Wiedemann in 1828. It belongs to the subfamily Tabaninae, which contains the majority of horse fly species. The species is currently accepted as valid, though it has been treated as a synonym in some historical classifications. Information regarding its biology and ecology is sparse in the available literature.
Tabanus fumipennis
Tabanus fumipennis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, subfamily Tabaninae. The species is recorded from the United States. Like other horse flies, females likely require blood meals for egg development, while both sexes feed on nectar. Specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Tabanus fuscicostatus
Tabanus fuscicostatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Hine in 1906. The species has been the subject of population-level research examining how parity rates—the proportion of females that have previously oviposited—respond to changes in host availability. Like other horse flies, adults are likely blood-feeders with females requiring blood meals for egg development, while larvae are typically predatory or scavenging in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments.
Tabanus fusconervosus
horse fly
Tabanus fusconervosus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, subfamily Tabaninae. It was described by Macquart in 1838. The species is recorded from the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available literature. As with other Tabanus species, adults are likely diurnal and females probably require blood meals for egg development.
Tabanus fuscopunctatus
Tabanus fuscopunctatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Macquart in 1850. It is recorded from the United States, though specific details regarding its biology, habitat preferences, and ecological role remain poorly documented in available literature. The species belongs to a large genus of biting flies whose members are known for their blood-feeding behavior and roles as pests of livestock and wildlife.
Tabanus gladiator
Tabanus gladiator is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Stone in 1935. It is distributed in the United States. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the general characteristics of large, robust biting flies with prominent compound eyes. The specific epithet "gladiator" suggests a potentially distinctive or formidable appearance among horse flies.
Tabanus imitans
Tabanus imitans is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1848. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the characteristic large size and robust build typical of horse flies, with females possessing scissor-like mouthparts adapted for blood-feeding. The species name 'imitans' suggests a resemblance to another taxon, though the specific basis for this naming remains undocumented in available sources.
Tabanus kesseli
Tabanus kesseli is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1950. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it belongs to a large group of biting flies known for their robust bodies and large eyes. The species is recognized as valid by GBIF and iNaturalist, though the Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. Very little specific information about this species has been published in accessible sources.
Tabanus laticornis
horse fly
Tabanus laticornis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The species was described by Enderlein in 1931. It is distributed in the United States and Mexico. The species is listed as an accepted name in GBIF, though Catalogue of Life notes it as an ambiguous synonym of Tabanus rousselii. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the general characteristics of horse flies including large eyes and blood-feeding females, though specific details for this species are limited in available sources.
Tabanus marginalis
horse fly
Tabanus marginalis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Fabricius in 1805. Like other horse flies in the genus Tabanus, it belongs to a group of large, biting flies known for their blood-feeding females and non-biting males. The species occurs in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. Specific ecological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Tabanus moderator
Tabanus moderator is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Stone in 1938. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it belongs to one of the largest genera of horse flies in North America. The species is recognized as valid in major taxonomic databases including GBIF and NCBI, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. Very little specific information about this species has been documented in the available literature.
Tabanus molestus
horse fly
Tabanus molestus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is distributed in the United States. Like other horse flies, females possess blade-like mouthparts adapted for cutting skin to obtain blood meals, while males have reduced mouthparts and do not blood feed. The species is part of the diverse genus Tabanus, which includes some of the largest biting flies in North America.
Tabanus mularis
Tabanus mularis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Stone in 1935. The species is currently recognized as valid, though it was previously listed as a synonym in some sources. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the characteristic blood-feeding behavior of female horse flies, with males typically feeding on nectar and other sugary substances. The species has been documented through a small number of observations, with records indicating presence in North America.
Tabanus pallidescens
horse fly
Tabanus pallidescens is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1936. It belongs to the large genus Tabanus, which contains many biting fly species distributed across North America. The species is poorly documented in the scientific literature, with minimal published information on its biology and ecology.
Tabanus pruinosus
Tabanus pruinosus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Bigot in 1892. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it belongs to a group of large, blood-feeding flies known for their painful bites to mammals, including humans. The specific epithet "pruinosus" refers to a frosted or pruinose appearance, suggesting a distinctive coloration or surface texture. Like other horse flies, females require blood meals for egg development, while males typically feed on nectar and other sugary substances.
Tabanus pumilus
horse fly
Tabanus pumilus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Macquart in 1838. The specific epithet "pumilus" (Latin for "dwarf" or "small") suggests this species is relatively small compared to other horse flies in the genus. Like other Tabanus species, females are blood-feeding while males feed on nectar. The species has been recorded from the northeastern United States, with confirmed observations from Vermont.
Tabanus quinquevittatus
five-striped horse fly
Tabanus quinquevittatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is distributed in the United States, with records from Vermont and other states. The species has been studied for seasonal variation in body size and relationships among body size, parity, and fecundity in host-seeking females. Like other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar.
Tabanus reinwardtii
Reinwardt's Horse Fly
Tabanus reinwardtii is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, originally described by Wiedemann in 1828. The species is recognized as valid in GBIF and NCBI databases, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. It is commonly known as Reinwardt's Horse Fly and has been documented in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. The species belongs to the large genus Tabanus, which contains numerous biting fly species distributed worldwide.
Tabanus sackeni
Tabanus sackeni is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Fairchild in 1934. Males and females exhibit distinct activity patterns: males are primarily collected at UV-light traps just before sunrise, while females show crepuscular host-seeking peaks and are caught in Malaise traps in the evening. Females frequently have large crop volumes after blood-feeding, and many dipping females are gravid. The species occurs in Canada and the United States.
Tabanus sequax
Pursuing Horse Fly
Tabanus sequax, commonly known as the Pursuing Horse Fly, is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. The species was described by Williston in 1887 and is currently recognized as a synonym of Hybomitra sequax in modern taxonomic treatments. As with other horse flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their persistent pursuit of mammalian hosts. The species has been documented from at least two observations, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Tabanus similis
striped horse fly
Tabanus similis, commonly known as the striped horse fly, is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is distributed across Canada and the United States. Like other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and other sugary substances. The species is recognized by its distinctive striped patterning.
Tabanus sparus
horse fly
Tabanus sparus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Whitney in 1879. The species is distributed in the United States and includes two recognized subspecies: T. s. sparus and T. s. milleri. Like other horse flies, adults are likely to be medium to large-sized dipterans with biting mouthparts. The species belongs to the nominate subgenus Tabanus within the genus.
Tabanus stygius
Stygian Horse Fly
Tabanus stygius is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. The species is known from the United States. As with other horse flies, females are blood-feeders while males feed on nectar and other plant fluids. The common name "Stygian" refers to the dark or infernal coloration typical of this species.
Tabanus sublongus
Tabanus sublongus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Stone in 1938. The species is currently accepted in GBIF and NCBI taxonomies, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. No iNaturalist observations exist for this taxon. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it belongs to a group of large, blood-feeding flies whose females require blood meals for egg development, though species-specific biological details for T. sublongus remain undocumented in available sources.
Tabanus subniger
Tabanus subniger is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Coquillett in 1906. It was originally described as a subspecies of Tabanus atratus (the black horse fly) but is now recognized as a distinct species. The species belongs to a genus of large, robust flies known for their biting mouthparts and association with mammals.
Tabanus subsimilis
horse fly
Tabanus subsimilis is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Bellardi in 1859. The species occurs in the southern United States and Mexico. Like other horse flies, it belongs to a group of biting flies known for their blood-feeding behavior by females and their ecological roles as pollinators and prey for other organisms.
Tabanus sulcifrons
Tabanus sulcifrons is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, widely distributed throughout the eastern half of the United States and adjacent regions of southern Canada. Larvae develop in wet, muddy margins of ponds and streams in saturated soil. The species has two recognized subspecies: T. s. sulcifrons and T. s. variegatus.
Tabanus trijunctus
Tabanus trijunctus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae. It is distributed in The Bahamas and the United States. Very little specific information is available regarding its biology, ecology, or distinguishing characteristics.
Tabanus trimaculatus
Tabanus trimaculatus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Palisot de Beauvois in 1806. The species is distributed across the United States and Canada. As a member of the genus Tabanus, it shares the characteristic robust body form and large eyes typical of horse flies, though specific distinguishing features of this species are not well documented in available sources.
Tabanus turbidus
horse fly
Tabanus turbidus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Wiedemann in 1828. It belongs to the large genus Tabanus, which contains many species of biting flies commonly known as horse flies or deer flies. The species has been documented in the United States based on available records.
Tabanus venustus
horse fly
Tabanus venustus is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, first described by Osten Sacken in 1876. It is recorded from the United States. Like other horse flies, females are presumed to be blood-feeders while males feed on nectar. The species is distinguished from congeners by specific morphological features of the genus Tabanus.
Tabanus vivax
Tabanus vivax is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Osten Sacken in 1876. The species is recognized as valid in GBIF and NCBI databases, though Catalogue of Life lists it as a synonym. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Tabanus, which contains numerous biting fly species distributed across North America. The specific epithet 'vivax' suggests an association with vigorous or lively characteristics, though the precise etymological intent of the original description remains unverified.
Tabanus zythicolor
Tabanus zythicolor is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae, described by Philip in 1936. The specific epithet 'zythicolor' derives from Greek 'zythos' (beer) and Latin 'color', likely referring to a beer-colored or brownish coloration. Very little is known about this species beyond its taxonomic description and occurrence in the United States. It belongs to the large genus Tabanus, which contains over 1,000 species of biting horse flies worldwide.
Whitneyomyia
Whitneyomyia is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae, established by Bequaert in 1933. The genus contains at least one described species, W. beatifica. As a member of the tribe Tabanini, it belongs to a diverse group of blood-feeding flies. Very little specific biological information is available for this genus.