Gonotrophic status, sperm presence and sugar feeding patterns in southwestern Quebec tabanid (Diptera) populations.

Parity, stage of follicular development, sperm and fructose presence were determined for 6 tabanid species from southwestern Quebec during 2 consecutive years. Females were collected in canopy traps baited with or without carbon dioxide. Based on the presence or absence of host-seeking nulliparous flies (nullipars), Hybomitra epistates, H. nitidifrons nuda, H. sodalis, Tabanus lineola and T. similis were classified as being anautogenous. Hybomitra frontalis was classified as autogenous for its first ovarian cycle. Sperm was found in 88% and fructose was detected in 84% of the 700 specimens dissected. In anautogenous species, sperm and fructose prevalence was higher in pars than in nullipars.