New distributional records of Tabanidae (Insecta: Diptera) from different geo-climatic regions of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Eight species namely Chrysops designatus Ricardo, 1911; Hybomitra subcallosa (Ricardo, 1911); Tabanus dorsiger Wiedemann, 1821; Tabanus (Tabanus) biannularis Philip, 1960; Tabanus (Tabanus) optatus Walker, 1856; Haematopota inconspicua Ricardo, 1911; Haematopota sikkimensis Stone & Philip, 1974 and Haematopota tessellata Ricardo, 1906; belonging to four genera viz., Chrysops Meigen, 1803; Hybomitra Enderlein, 1922; Tabanus Linnaeus, 1758 and Haematopota Meigen, 1803; of subfamilies Chrysopsinae and Tabaninae, are recorded for the first time from the state of West Bengal, are listed, keyed, and discussed with distribution pattern wherever deemed necessary, along with morphology and methodology in aid of understanding the flies of family Tabanidae.