Prevalence, seasonality and behaviour of Tabanidae (Diptera) captured on a horse in the Planalto Serrano of Santa Catarina State, Brazil

The seasonality and behaviour of tabanids were studied in the Planalto Serrano of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. From March 2007 to February 2009, a total of 915 tabanid flies from 15 species and six genera were collected on an individual horse. The number of tabanid species varied from zero during autumn/winter to ten in summer (December-February). Dichelacera alcicornis Wied. (62.1%) was the most abundant species followed by Chrysops fusciapex Lutz (6.7%) and C. patricia Pechuman (5.9%). Peak catches occurred during the summer (December-March). The landing behaviour varied by genera: Chrysops (100%) preferred the head, Dichelacera (56.3%) the flanks, and Poecilodera (100%), Acanthocera (100%), Tabanus (58.8%) and Fidena (48.7%) the limbs region. This is the first work on tabanids in the Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

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