Difference between revisions of "Tabanidae"

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Also known as: '''''Horse flies — Deerflies — Clegs'''''
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{{Taxobox
 
|name              =Culicidae
 
|kingdom            =Animalia
 
|sub-kingdom        =
 
|phylum            =[[:Category:Arthropods|Arthropoda]]
 
|super-class        =
 
|class              =[[:Category:Insecta|Insecta]]
 
|sub-class          =
 
|super-order        =
 
|order              =Diptera
 
|sub-order          =Brachycera
 
|super-family      =
 
|family            =Tabanidae
 
|sub-family        =
 
|genus              =
 
|species            =
 
}}
 
 
==Introduction==
 
==Introduction==
[[Image:Tabanus.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Tabanidae tabanus (horse fly). Source: Wikimedia Commons; Author: Alvesgaspar (2010)]]
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Tabanidae flies are found throughout the world and although commonly being known as the horse fly they attack a wide variety of animals including humans. There are several genus of veterinary importance;
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| Also known as:
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| '''Horse flies
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Tabanidae flies are found throughout the world and although commonly being known as the horse fly they attack a wide variety of animals including humans. There are several species of veterinary importance;
 
*''Tabanus''
 
*''Tabanus''
*''Chrysops'' also known as deerflies
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*''Chrysops'' also known as deerflies
*''Haematopota'' - also known as clegs
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*''Haematopota'' also known as clegs
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==Recognition==
 
==Recognition==
::'''Adults'''
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Tabanidae flies are large flies, up to 2.5cm long with bodies that are usually dark in colour. They have broad heads with biting mouth parts and bulging eyes that are often brightly coloured. The mouthparts are adapted to biting a sucking blood, they consist of paired mandibles and maxillae which are used for cutting and rasping to create a feeding hole. Blood is then sucked using a protruding hypopharynx. The mouthparts are short and deal roughly with the host, this is often the cause of pain for the host. Only the female flies take a blood meal,  
Tabanidae flies are large flies, up to 2.5cm long with bodies that are usually dark in colour. The dark bodies may have stripes or patches of colour down them or be entirely coloured in some cases. They have broad heads with biting mouth parts and bulging eyes that are often brightly coloured. The mouthparts are adapted to biting a sucking blood, and always point downwards. They consist of paired mandibles and maxillae which are used for cutting and rasping to create a feeding hole. Blood is then sucked using a protruding hypopharynx. The mouthparts are short and deal roughly with the host, this is often the cause of pain for the host. Only females take a blood meal, males lack mandibles and may only feed on honeydew and nectar. The wings of Tabanidae flies have a distinctive venation. The antennae are all in three segments but differ between the 3 important veterinary genus.
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*Biting mouthparts
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**Short, strong and down pointing proboscis
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**Only females suck blood
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*Dark colour with stripes or patches of colour on body and wings
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*Large eyes
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**Often brightly coloured
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*Specific wing venation
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**Closed discal cell shape
  
::'''Larvae'''
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*Stout
Tabanidae larvae are large, 1.5 - 3cm in length with large biting mandibles. They are off white in colour with longitudinal striations on the cuticle. There are paired unsegmented appendages, psuedopods, along the body to assist in movement. The posterior of the larvae usually has a respiratory siphon present.
 
  
::'''Eggs'''
 
Eggs are an off white colour and cigar shaped. They can be between 1 - 3 mm long.
 
  
 
==Life Cycle==
 
==Life Cycle==
Tabanidae flies lay their eggs on the underside of leaves overhanging areas of water. When the eggs hatch the larvae fall from the leaves into the water where they remain for anywhere between 3 months and 3 years if overwintering occurs. Once the larvae have developed they move onto dry land to pupate. The pupa hatches after about 3 weeks and live flies emerge. In total this life cycle takes '''over one year''' to complete.
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*Eggs laid on leaves overhanging water
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*Larvae drop into water
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*1 year later larvae emerge onto dry land to pupate
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*Adult flies emerge a few weeks after pupating
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*Life cycle takes '''over 1 year''' to complete
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==Pathogenesis==
 
==Pathogenesis==
The Tabanidae flies in themselves are responsible for painful, irritating bites which can cause distress to the animal in question. They are most active on hot, sunny days and locate their prey by sight using their large bulbous eyes. As well as causing irritation when biting the flies act as mechanical vectors for a number of other pathogens;
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*Most active on hot, sunny days
*Bacteria such as [[Bacillus species#Bacillus anthracis|anthrax]] and pasteurellosis
 
*Viruses such as [[Equine Infectious Anemia|Equine infectious anaemia]] and [[African Horse Sickness|African horse sickness]]
 
*Rickettsiales, such as [[Anaplasmosis|anaplasmosis]]
 
The Tabanidae flies may also act as intermediate host for some trypanosome species.
 
 
 
  
{{Learning
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*Locate prey by sight
|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A%28tabanidae%29&fq=sc%3A%22ve%22 Tabanidae publications]
 
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*Cause painful irritating bites
  
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*Mechanical vectors for many diseases
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**Bacteria such as [[Bacillus species#Bacillus anthracis|anthrax]] and pasteurellosis
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**Viruses such as [[Equine Infectious Anemia|Equine infectious anaemia]] and [[African Horse Sickness|African horse sickness]]
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**Rickettsiales, such as [[Anaplasma marginale|anaplasmosis]]
  
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*Intermediate hosts for some trypanosome diseases
  
 
[[Category:Biting_Flies]]
 
[[Category:Biting_Flies]]
[[Category:Expert_Review - Parasites]]
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[[Category:To_Do_-_NickJ]]

Revision as of 17:07, 6 August 2010


Introduction

Also known as: Horse flies

Tabanidae flies are found throughout the world and although commonly being known as the horse fly they attack a wide variety of animals including humans. There are several species of veterinary importance;

  • Tabanus
  • Chrysops also known as deerflies
  • Haematopota also known as clegs


Recognition

Tabanidae flies are large flies, up to 2.5cm long with bodies that are usually dark in colour. They have broad heads with biting mouth parts and bulging eyes that are often brightly coloured. The mouthparts are adapted to biting a sucking blood, they consist of paired mandibles and maxillae which are used for cutting and rasping to create a feeding hole. Blood is then sucked using a protruding hypopharynx. The mouthparts are short and deal roughly with the host, this is often the cause of pain for the host. Only the female flies take a blood meal,

  • Biting mouthparts
    • Short, strong and down pointing proboscis
    • Only females suck blood
  • Dark colour with stripes or patches of colour on body and wings
  • Large eyes
    • Often brightly coloured
  • Specific wing venation
    • Closed discal cell shape
  • Stout


Life Cycle

  • Eggs laid on leaves overhanging water
  • Larvae drop into water
  • 1 year later larvae emerge onto dry land to pupate
  • Adult flies emerge a few weeks after pupating
  • Life cycle takes over 1 year to complete


Pathogenesis

  • Most active on hot, sunny days
  • Locate prey by sight
  • Cause painful irritating bites
  • Intermediate hosts for some trypanosome diseases