ARS | Publication request: New records for the horse fly fauna (Diptera: Tabanidae) of Saudi Arabia with remarks on ecology and zoogeography

Submitted to: Acta Parasitologica Et Medica Entomologica Sinica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2012
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Citation: Muller, G.C., Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Kravchenko, V.D. 2012. New records for the horse fly fauna (Diptera: Tabanidae) of Saudi Arabia with remarks on ecology and zoogeography. Acta Parasitologica Et Medica Entomologica Sinica. 19(1):1005-0507.

Interpretive Summary: Until recently, 25 species of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) were described from the country of Saudi Arabia. During the 20-year project “the ecology and zoogeography of the Lepidoptera of the Near East,” USDA-CMAVE and Israeli scientists regularly collected horse flies as well as butterflies. This resulted in four new records added to the local tabanid fauna. The zoogeography and ecology of the fauna are briefly discussed.

Technical Abstract: Until recently, 25 Tabanidae species were described from Saudi Arabia. During the 20-year project “the ecology and zoogeography of the Lepidoptera of the Near East,” USDA-CMAVE and Israeli scientists regularly collected horse flies, which resulted in 4 additional records for the local fauna. The new records are: Ancala africana (Gray, 1832) and Philoliche zonata Walker, 1871, both with Afrotropical distribution types, Tabanus gratus Loew, 1858 with an Afrotropical-Eremic distribution type, and Atylotus pulchellus (Loew, 1858) with a Palearctic distribution type. The zoogeography and ecology of the fauna are briefly discussed.