Cedar Creek
Natural History Area
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Insects of Cedar Creek
Order DIPTERA
Family TABANIDAE
(Horse and Deer Flies)
The Deer Flies and Horse Flies (350 NA spp) primarily have aquatic larvae
that are presumed predaceous on invertebrates in organic ooze, although
a few species have terrestrial larvae. 47 species are reported for Minnesota
(Philip, 1931). As any summer resident of Cedar Creek knows, the
adults feed on blood. Indeed, most visitors to Cedar Creek in July comment
that they have NEVER encountered such an abundance of these irritating
fellows. Roughly 11 species of Chrysops
(deer flies) have been collected. Some appear to inhabit creek, pond, and
lake margins (aestuans, excitans, frigida,
carbonarius,
cincticornis),
while the most numerous and obnoxius species (aberrans, striatus,
vittatus,
indus,
montanus,
sackeni)
appear to inhabit marshes. Perhaps 10 species of Horse Flies (Tabanus
spp. Hybomitra spp)
have been collected. Tentative IDs include:
lasiophthalma,
illota,
frontalis,
nudus,
epistates,
trepida,
trispila,
zonalis,
novaescotiae,
and
fulvicollis. Hybomitra lasiophthalma appears
to have terrestrial larvae for males appear to guard small openings in
woodlands where their buzzing, hovering, and chasing attract considerable
attention.
Atylotus bicolor
has also been collected.
REFERENCES
Philip CB (1931). The Tabanidae (Horseflies) of Minnesota.
U/MN Ag Expt Sta Tech Bull 80.