Large Eyes, Segments And Characteristics Of Tabanus Spp

Tabanus spp.
Horse fly/ Breeze fly/ Gad fly These are very large flies with very large eyes and gap between them is small. Antennae are projected forward in front of the head and have 3 segments. The first 2 segments of the antenna are small, the third segment has 4 annulations and has a tooth like projection called spur. Flies hold their wings horizontally at rest. Proboscis is short The mouth part consists of two jointed well-developed palps, a pair of well developed mandibles and maxillae. Labrum epipharynx and hypopharynx are slender. Labium is well-developed with 2 prominent labella containing pseudotracheal tubes. When at rest, wings are not folded closely over the abdomen. Wings are strengthened with prominent veins and the third
Clegs Size of these flies is intermediate between Tabanus and Chrysops Mouth parts are similar to Tabanus spp. Wings are held folded closed to abdomen and have a complex pattern of pigmentation. Wings have whitish blotches (mottled appearance) and at rest they meet at the base, diverge slightly and are held slightly sloping like the roof of a house. Eyes have zig zag bands. They have fairly large eyes with a wide gap between them. First segment of antennae is large, second is narrower and 3rd segment has 3 annulations. Spur is absent on the third segment. Antenna is projected forward. Keys to Identify Ixodid Ticks of India The Ixodid ticks otherwise known as hard ticks are so called because of the presence of a hard chitinous structure called scutum is present dorsally in all stages of life. The scutum covers the entire dorsum in case of male ticks and is restricted to the anterior region in larvae, nymphs and adult females. Articulations of the palps are varied. There are three prominent segments are generally present in palps and the fourth segment is reduced and it bears a chemoreceptor sensilla. Eyes if present are situated laterally on the
The eggs are small, round or oval in shape and brown in colour. From the eggs after the optimum incubation period larvae hatches out which are otherwise known as seed ticks which will have scutum and only three pairs of legs. These seed ticks then finds a suitable host and attaches to it. The larvae can survive more than 3 months without feeding. Once fully fed the larvae falls off and will moult to nymph on the ground in case of multiple host ticks or will start moulting to nymphs on the animal in case of single host ticks. The nymph has a scutum and four pairs of legs. But they will not possess the genital opening. The nymphs then moult to adult ticks either on host or from the ground then finds a suitable host for attachment. According to the length of the mouth parts the ticks have been grouped as brevirostrate (short) and longirostrate (elongated). Some of the common parasitic tick species prevalent in India along with their morphological features have been mentioned