Taxonomic notes on Tabanidae from south India with special reference to Western Ghats

Abstract

Faunistic studies on Tabanidae along Western Ghats covering Belagavi division, Karnataka, India revealed the presence of 20 species of Tabanidae viz. Tabanus indianus Ricardo, Tabanus biannularis Philip, Tabanus diversifrons Ricardo, Tabanus sexcinctus Ricardo, Tabanus gertrudae Philip, Tabanus triceps Thunberg, Tabanus dorsilinea Wiedemann, Tabanus rubidus Wiedemann, Tabanus jucundus Walker, Tabanus auristriatus Ricardo, Tabanus tenebrosus, Walker, Haematopota montana Ricardo, Haematopota javana Wiedemann, Haematopota longipennis Stone and Philip, Haematopota brevis Ricardo, Haematopota albimedia Stone and Philip, Chrysops dispar Fabricius, Chrysops pellucidus Fabricius, Atylotus virgo Wiedemann, Philoliche taprobanes Walker. Among the 20 species, seven species are proven vectors for Surra, Anthrax, Anaplasma marginale, Buffalo sickness and Pasteurella multocida in domestic and wild animals. Tabanus jucundus Walker, 1848 was recorded for the first time from Karnataka.