Tabanidae

Tabanidae is a family of flies in the order Diptera, commonly known as horse flies or gadflies. The group is diverse, with thousands of described species in many genera, and it has a worldwide distribution except for the most extreme polar regions and some isolated oceanic islands.

Adults of most species are robust and strong fliers. The females feed on blood, using cutting mouthparts to breach the skin, while males do not seek blood and instead feed mainly on nectar and pollen. Adults are often active during the day, are attracted to movement, body heat, odors, and carbon dioxide, and their bites can be very painful. Bites can cause stress and blood loss in livestock, and humans may experience local reactions.

Life cycle and habitat are holometabolous. Eggs are laid in clusters on vegetation near moist habitats or water. Larvae are typically aquatic or semi-aquatic and may be predatory or detritivorous, living in mud, moist soil, or along water edges. Pupation occurs in moist soil or leaf litter, and adults emerge after metamorphosis. The duration of the life cycle varies with species and climate.

Ecology and economic importance: Tabanids are important mainly as pests of livestock and humans. Their bites can reduce weight gain and productivity in cattle and cause irritation and stress. They can mechanically transmit several pathogens, acting as temporary vectors, though their role in disease transmission varies by region and species.

Notable genera include Tabanus, Chrysops, Hybomitra, Haematopota, and Atylotus. The family is recognized for its ecological diversity and its longstanding interaction with vertebrate hosts.