The Journal of Zoology Studies 2016; 3(4): 53-84 The Journal of Zoology Studies ISSN 2348-5914 JOZS 2016; 3(4): 53-84 An annotated checklist of Horseflies (Diptera: Tabanidae) from JOZS © 2016 India with remarks on Surra disease vectors Received: 09-07-2016 Accepted: 11-08-2016 Authors: Aniruddha Maity, Atanu Naskar, Jayita Sengupta, Surajit Hazra, Panchanan Parui, Sumit Homechaudhuri, Dhriti Banerjee Aniruddha Maity Diptera Section, Abstract Zoological Survey of India, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700053, INDIA. Tabanids are one of the representative groups of brachyceran insects under order Diptera and family Tabanidae as they have two wings, haltere, sickle shaped antennae, pulvilliform Atanu Naskar th th Diptera Section, empodium and their 4 and 5 radial veins terminate on opposite side of the wing. Tabnids are Zoological Survey of India, known for their furious bite followed by annoying sensation. Their haematophagy makes them M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata economically important as a serious pest for domestic and wild lives. Several viral, bacterial and 700053, INDIA. protozoan diseases are reported to be transmitted by around 20 species of vector tabanids from Jayita Sengupta India. Among all other diseases, Trypanosomiasis (locally called ‘Surra’) is one of the most Diptera Section, prevalent protozoan diseases in Indian sub-regions and causes serious threats to livestock and Zoological Survey of India, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata wild animal mortality. In India, 14 species are reported as Surra disease vectors. Worldwide the 700053, INDIA. Family Tabanidae has 4406 known species in 137 genera (Pape T et.al. 2013) and is represented Surajit Hazra by 310 species in 20 genera in Oriental region. Existing checklist of Tabanidae from India Diptera Section, reported the presence of 244 species under 15 genera and 3subfamily. Here an updated checklist Zoological Survey of India, of Tabanidae has been provided with 247 species and 1 subspecies belonging to 14 genera in 6 M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700053, INDIA. tribes and 3 subfamilies. Old names have been modified to update the current list. Panchanan Parui Keywords: Tabanidae, Updated checklist, Surra disease, Vector, India Diptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, 1. Introduction M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700053, INDIA. Tabanidae is a family of order Diptera, suborder Brachycera, Infraorder Tabanomorpha and Superfamily Tabanoidea under classification scheme of Marshall, 2012. They are differently Sumit Homechaudhuri named as horse flies (Tabanus), deer flies (Chrysops), or clegs (Haematopota) depending upon Departemnt of Zoology, different genera from where they belong to. These robust and sturdy flies are strong fliers and University of Calcutta, 35, B.C. Road, Kolkata 700019, INDIA. exhibit body size ranging from 5 to 33 mm. Adults of males feed on nectar, while females exhibit both haematophagous as well as nectarophagous feeding habit. Blood meal is necessary Dhriti Banerjee to carry out gonotrophic cycles in female Tabanids except for those who exhibit autogeny, a Diptera Section, process where usually single gonotrophic cycle can be completed without any blood meal. Zoological Survey of India, Males and females of the species are sexually dimorphic and show striking differences in the M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700053, INDIA. arrangement of eyes, which is used as differentiating characters. Females are dichoptic where eyes are separated by frons while males are holoptic where eyes are contiguous. Key diagnostic Corresponding Author: characters of this family are presence of annulated antennae forming sickle shape, presence of Aniruddha Maity pulvilliform empodium, 4th and 5th posterior vein diverge at the wing tip to form an open ‘V’, Diptera Section, discal cell longer than wide and wing with enlarged lower calypter. Zoological Survey of India, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata 700053, INDIA. Vol. 3 No. 4 2016 Page 53 Journalofzoology.com The Journal of Zoology Studies 2. Life cycle stages Mature larvae of Tabanidae are usually 12-50 mm 5. Trypanosomiasis or Surra disease long, calour varies from white to green, cylindrical, Trypanosomiasis is a disease characterized by high elongate, and fusiform, with a pigmented, retractile, fever, skin lesion, anaemia, and weight loss. The sclerotized head capsule, 3 thoracic and 8 abdominal disease is mainly prevalent in cattle, horse, camel and segments, and a terminal respiratory siphon postero- other domestic animals and transmitted by several dorsally. The first 7 abdominal segments usually have vector species of tabanid flies [3]. The disease was 3 or 4 pairs of pseudopodia anteriorly. Larvae of most originated from Africa and Trypanosoma evansi (Steel, species of Tabanidae are carnivorous except first and 1885) was the first mammalian trypanosome to be second instars which are non-feeding [13], while described in 1880 by Griffith Evans in blood of Indian majority of Chrysops larvae are saprophagous. equines. First case study of trypanosomiasis in India Pupation usually occurs in drier soil near the larval was described in camel by Basu, Menon & Sen Gupta habitat. The pupal period varies from approximately 1 [5]. There are several case studies of trypanosomiasis to 3 weeks and is temperature-dependent [38]. transmission in cattle and other live stocks. Investigation of the death of 13 tigers including 12 Pupae of Tabanidae are usually 10-33 mm long; white tigers in Nandan Kanan Zoo, Orissa was found to usually having various shades of colour from brown to be caused by trypanosomiasis transmission and several nearly black, obtect, arched dorsally, and elongate. The vector species were also found from the study area [80]. head and thorax are closely appressed. Eight abdominal First case report of trypanosomiasis in human was segments are present, the last terminating in an aster reported in 2005 in a farmer of Nagpur, Maharashtra composed of 3 pairs of pointed, sclerotized tubercles. [27]. A recent outbreak of this disease was reported in Abdominal segments II-VII bear 1 or 2 rows of fringe cattle of Ludhiana, Punjab [72]. Several serological test spines posteriorly on all sclerites except in the species and lymph examination using Haematocrit Centrifuge of genus Silvius Meigen, 1820. Technique (HCT) or Dark Ground buffy coat (DG) technique were used earlier for disease diagnosis [46]. Adult tabanids of females are generally Varying sensitivity of the test and failure to detect haematophagous, known for their noxious bite in both trypanosomes if number of parasites were too low wild and domestic cattle and vast range of livestocks depict limitation of parasitological diagnosis. However including birds, mammals even human, while males antigen ELISA was shown to have high diagnostic generally prefer to feed on plant extracts and nectars. sensitivity [43]. Trypanosomiasis was distributed mainly in Neotropical, Ethiopian, Oriental, Palearctic region, 3. Habit & Habitat evident from distribution map found in the review They are largely seen in warm days with low wind literature [21]. Although it has potential to spread in speed. Their abundance remains very high during Australia and Bismarck arch of Australasian oceanian monsoon [1]. Their preferred habitat seemed to be region due to presence of few potent vector species of bushy areas or grassland near aquatic body. Females surra disease in those regions. Use of drugs viz. are often found nearby their hosts, mostly seen in and Quinapyramine sulphate (sub cutaneous dose) at 3-5 around cattle in village areas. Adults generally take rest mg / kg body weight would be effective to kill on tree trunks after feeding. They are all diurnal in trypanosomes in blood tissues while the use of habit and found to breed near aquatic bodies [18]. antricyde prosalt (1.5 parts quinapyramine sulphate and 1 part quinapyramine chloride) resulted in prophylactic 4. Vector potentiality effect and that lasts for 3 months. Diminazene was Tabanids are known to transmit around 80 different found to be very effective especially in case of types of viral, bacterial and protozoan diseases. Among buffaloes. them trypanosomiasis, loaloa, anthrax are prevalent and at the same time even cause fatal in some cases left 6. Taxonomic research untreated [29]. They are responsible for economical loss The Indian Tabanidae was studied which included a in dairy industry as their easy targets are domestic species and described from India herself earlier in 1798 cattle across the rural belts of several states in this by Fabricius [23], who has later added three more country [19]. Thus they have become the flies of species [24]. Subsequently, in the nineteenth century, medical and veterinary importance and cause serious Wiedemann [86, 87], Macquart [33, 34, 35, 36], Saunders [62], hazards to livestock and wild animals [4]. Checklist of Walker [83, 84, 85], Schiner [63] and Bigot [6, 7] have Tabanidae and vector tabanids need to be updated in described several species from different parts of India. order to prepare control measure for successful With the beginning of the twentieth century, Ricardo prevention of Trypanosomiasis, one of the most potent [54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61] has contributed much to the Indian and deadly diseases transmitted by these flies in India. fauna and her outstanding contribution of 1911 is the Vol. 3 No. 4 2016 Page 54 Journalofzoology.com The Journal of Zoology Studies most important source of reference till today. Besides, scope to serve as a valuable database in