Environmental Entomology (1972) 1, 602-606

Albert R. Thornhill and Kirby L. Hays (1972)
Dispersal and flight activities of some species of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae)
Environmental Entomology 1 (5), 602-606
Abstract: Certain aspects of the dispersal, flight activities, and longevity of some horse flies of the genus Tabanus were determined by recapturing marked flies during the summers of 1969 and 1970. Of the 1063 marked flies released in 1969 and the 2931 released in 1970, 11 marked flies were recaptured in 1969 and 103 in 1970. Marked flies recaptured during 1969 and 1970 were of the following species: Tabanus fulvulus Wiedemann, T. lineola F., T. melanocerus Wiedemann, T. nigripes Wiedemann, T. pallidescens Philip, and T. petiolatus Hine. The number of recaptured flies in relation to the distance of the traps from the release point indicated that some horse flies did not range widely. The amount of wooded terrain in the flight path apparently had no influence on the number of recaptures. Marked flies were recaptured in the research area for periods of up to 23 days.
The numbers of recaptures east and west of the release point and in open and wooded areas were compared statistically. The flies indicated no preference for any of these areas. When the total numbers of horse flies on each trap were compared, it was evident that the flies were equally distributed throughout the research area.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tabanus (genus)		U.S.A. (SE)