Tabanus sudeticus

Tabanus sudeticus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Clade:	Pancrustacea
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Tabanidae
Subfamily:	Tabaninae
Tribe:	Tabanini
Genus:	Tabanus
Species:	T. sudeticus
Binomial name
Tabanus sudeticus Zeller, 18421
Synonyms
Tabanus verralli Oldroyd, 19392 Tabanus sudeticus f. confusus Goffe, 19313 Tabanus sudeticus f. distinctus Goffe, 19313 Tabanus sudeticus f. meridionalis Goffe, 19313 Tabanus sudeticus var. perplexus Verrall, 19094

Tabanus sudeticus, also known as the dark giant horsefly, is a species of biting horse-fly.⁵⁶ It is the heaviest fly in Europe.⁷

The dark giant horsefly's length is around 20-25 millimeters.⁸ They have uniform dark brown eyes.⁸

Dark giant horseflies are a common species to be found buzzing around cows and horses.⁸ They usually only suck blood from horses and cows, avoiding humans.⁸ They fly with a very loud buzzing.⁸⁹

Tabanus sudeticus is found in many countries of Western Europe. It has a marked northern and western distribution; being found as far north as Southern Norway and the Western Isles of Scotland, and with an occasional record from Belarus.¹⁰

References

References

1. Zeller, P.C. (1842). "Dipterologische Beytrage. Zweyte Abtheilung". Isis (Oken's). 1842: 807–847.
2. Oldroyd, H. (1939). Tabanidae. In Edwards, F.W., Oldroyd, H. & Smart, J., British blood-sucking flies. Vol. 8. London. pp. 1–156.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
3. Goffe, E.R. (1931). "British Tabanidae (Diptera). With an account of the principal variation. With descriptions of a number of new forms, and of some additions to the British List". Transactions of the Entomological Society of the South of England. 6(1930): 43–114.
4. Verrall, G.H. (1909). Stratiomyidae and succeeding families of the Diptera Brachycera of Great Britain In his British flies. Vol. 5. London: Gurney & Jackson. pp. 780 pp. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
5. Moucha, J. (1976). "Horse-flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of the World. Synoptic Catalogue" (PDF). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae Supplements. 7: 1–320. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
6. Stubbs, A. & Drake, M. (2001). British Soldierflies and Their Allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 512 pp. ISBN 1-899935-04-5.
7. "Check out this massive fly". Naturenet. 7 June 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
8. THES, MoveCMS by. "Dark giant horsefly | Animal | Life Habitats". www.lifehabitats.com. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
9. Chvála, Milan; Lyneborg, Leif; Moucha, Josef (1972). The Horse Flies of Europe (Diptera, Tabanidae). Copenhagen: Entomological Society of Copenhagen. pp. 598pp, 164figs. ISBN 978-09-00-84857-5.
10. "Dark Giant Horse Fly Tabanus sudeticus". iNaturalist. Retrieved 10 June 2020.