Deer fly

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Deer fly
Chrysops P1600063a.jpg
Chrysops
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tabanidae
Subfamily: Chrysopsinae
Lutz, 1905
Tribes
Synonyms
  • Silvinae Lutz, 1909 [2]

Chrysopsinae is an insect subfamily in the family Tabanidae commonly known as deer flies or sheep flies and are bloodsucking insects considered pests to humans and cattle. [3] They are large flies with large brightly-coloured compound eyes, and large clear wings with dark bands. [4] They are larger than the common housefly and smaller than the horse-fly. [5] [6]

Contents

Deer flies lay between 100 and 800 eggs on vegetation near water or dampness in batches. During the larval stage, which lasts one to three weeks, they feed on small creatures or rotting organic matter near or in the water. [3] After a pupal stage, they emerge as adults in late spring and summer. While male deer flies collect pollen, female deer flies feed on blood, which they require to produce eggs. [7] Females feed primarily on mammals. They are attracted to prey by sight, smell, or the carbon dioxide detection. Other attractants are body heat, movement, dark colours, and lights in the night. They are active under direct sunshine and hours when the temperature is above 22 °C (71.6°). [7] When feeding, the females use scissor-like mandibles and maxillae to make a cross-shaped incision and then lap up the blood. Their bite can be painful. Anti-coagulants in the fly's saliva prevent blood from clotting and may cause severe allergic reactions. Parasites and diseases transmitted by the deer fly include tularemia, anthrax, anaplasmosis, equine infectious anemia, hog cholera, and filiariasis. DEET is not an effective repellent. [4]

Predators of the deer fly (and other Tabanidae) include nest-building wasps and hornets, dragonflies, and some birds, including the killdeer. Deer flies are difficult to control because insecticides cannot be applied in the sensitive wetlands where their larvae typically develop. Additionally, adults may have developed a significant distance from where the eggs were laid. [4] Trapping devices and protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and hats, can help avoid the annoyance and bites of aggressive deer flies.

Silvius gigantulus Golden Deer Fly - Silvius gigantulus, Bassetts, California.jpg
Silvius gigantulus

Genera

These 33 genera belong to the subfamily Chrysopsinae: [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Silvius</i> (fly) Genus of flies

Silvius is a genus of flies in the family Tabanidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabanoidea</span> Superfamily of flies

Superfamily Tabanoidea are insects in the order Diptera.

<i>Haematopota</i> Genus of flies

Haematopota is a genus of flies in the horse-fly family, Tabanidae. Among the horse-flies, they are most commonly known as clegs. Many species have colorful, sinuously patterned eyes in life, a character that fades after death. The wings are typically patterned with spots of grey. The genus is named from the Ancient Greek for blood-drinker: αἷμα, haîma, blood; πότης, pótës, drinker. Some species are known to be vectors of livestock diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabaninae</span> Subfamily of flies

Tabaninae is a subfamily in the family Tabanidae commonly known as horse flies. There are more than 3000 described species in Tabaninae.

<i>Atylotus</i> Genus of flies

Atylotus is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

<i>Philoliche</i> Genus of flies

Philoliche is a genus of long-tongued Horse-flies found in the Old World. It appears to be the sole member of tribe Philolichini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pangoniinae</span> Subfamily of flies

Pangoniinae is a subfamily of horse-flies in the order Diptera, containing at seven tribes and over 40 genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scionini</span> Tribe of insects

Scionini is a tribe of horse and deer flies in subfamily Pangoniinae of family Tabanidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chrysopsini</span> Tribe of insects

Chrysopsini is a tribe of horse and deer flies in the family Tabanidae.

Atelozella is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

Cydistomyia is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

Bouvieromyiini is a tribe of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhinomyzini</span> Tribe of insects

Rhinomyzini is a tribe of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

<i>Sphecodemyia</i> Genus of flies

Sphecodemyia is a genus of flies in the family Tabanidae.

Mackerrasia is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

<i>Oldroydiella</i> Genus of insects

Oldroydiella is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

Aegophagamyia is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

Rhigioglossa is a genus of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.

References

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  2. Lutz, A.; Neiva, A. (1909). "Contribuições para o conhecimento da fauna indijena de Tabanidas". Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 1 (1): 28–32. doi:10.1590/S0074-02761909000100004 . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 Townsend, Lee. "Horse Flies and Deer Flies". University of Kentucky. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Horse and Deer Flies". Medical Entomology. Purdue University. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  5. Moucha, J. (1976). "Horse-flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of the World. Synoptic Catalogue" (PDF). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae Supplements. 7: 1–320. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  6. Burger, J. F. (1995). "Catalog of Tabanidae (Diptera) in North America north of Mexico". International Contributions on Entomology. 1 (1). Associated Publishers: 1–100.
  7. 1 2 "Chrysops sp". The Virtual Nature Trail at Penn State New Kensington. Penn State University. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  8. Turcatel, Mauren (2014). A Molecular Phylogeny of Deer Flies and their Closest Relatives (PhD). North Carolina State University.
  9. Austen, E.E. (1912). "New genera and species of Tabanidae in the British Museum (Natural History)". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 9 (8): 1–33. doi:10.1080/00222931208693101 . Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  10. 1 2 Quentin, R.M. (1990). "Le groupe des Orgizomyia de Madagascar (Diptera: Tabanidae: Chrysopsonae: Rhinomyzini)". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 26 (3): 431–436. doi:10.1080/21686351.1990.12277838.
  11. 1 2 Oldroyd, H. (1970). "A new genus of Rhinomyzini (Diptera: Tabanidae), the first from South America". Journal of Natural History. 4 (2): 249–253. Bibcode:1970JNatH...4..249O. doi:10.1080/00222937000770241.
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  15. Dias, J.A. T.S. (1956). "Um novo genero para a tribu Bouvieromyiini (Enderlein, 1922)". Bolm Soc. Estud. Mocamb. 26 (98): 75–79.
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  17. Hine, J. S (1912). "Five new species of North American Tabanidae" (PDF). The Ohio Naturalist. 12: 513–516. hdl:1811/1757 . Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  18. Rondani, Camillo (1856). Dipterologiae Italicae Prodromus. Vol: I. Genera italica ordinis Dipterorum ordinatim disposita et distincta et in familias et stirpes aggregata. Parmae [= Parma].: A. Stocchi. pp. 226 + [2]. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
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  21. 1 2 3 Grunberg, K. (1906). "Einige neue Tabaniden gattungen des athiopischen Faunen gebiets". Zool. Anz. 30: 349–362.
  22. Oldroyd, H. (1957). The horse-flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of the Ethiopian Region. III. Subfamilies Chrysopinae, Scepsidinae and Pangoniinae and a revised classification. London: British Museum (Natural History). pp. xii + 489.
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Further reading