Tabanids in South America Tabanids in South America
Provisional chapter Chapter 4 Tabanids in South America Tabanids in South America Ronald Rodrigues Guimarães, RonaldHarlan RonaldRodrigues Storti Guimarães, Rodrigues and HarlanRonald RonaldRodrigues Storti Guimarães Rodrigues Júnior and RonaldAdditional Rodrigues information is Guimarãesavailable at the Júnior end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67108 Abstract The text provides information on taxonomy, morphological data, distribution, and bionomy on most recorded species of tabanids in South America. The distribution parameters of spe‐ cies according to classification by biogeographical regions are used. An appendix indicating the main studies about tabanids according to the countries of their origin is still offered. Keywords: insect vector, horsefly, Neotropical region, taxonomy, bionomy 1. Introduction The species of family Tabanidae Latreille, 1802, commonly known in South America as “mutucas,” “botucas,” “mbutú,” “colihuacho,” and “moscas de los caballos”, comprises more than 4400 worldwide species, absent only in the regions of higher altitudes and eternal snows [1, 2], with more than 1800 species present in the Neotropics [3]. They are the largest bloodsucking Diptera, reaching up to 25 mm, with a robust body and some with well‐developed proboscis, an aspect that causes respect and fear. Females often require blood meal for maturation of eggs, at least after the first posture, so they are considered autogenous, partially autogenous, or nonautogenous [4]. Males are phytophagous, but females, always in search of blood, repeatedly attack humans, domestic and wild animals, among primates, rodents, alligators, snakes, turtles, and birds, espe‐ cially during the drier seasons [5–8]. Tabanids are known worldwide for its painful sting and are mechanical and biological vectors of several helminths, viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, etio‐ logic agents of diseases that can affect humans and wild and domestic animals 9[ –11].
[Show full text]