Diagnosis and Detection of Cryptic Species: the Tabanus nigrovittatus Complex (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Coastal New Jersey

Abstract
The cryptic species Tabanus nigrovittatus and T. conterminus Walker can be identified using protein electrophoresis. The total body length of flies and 15 head dimensions were measured on electrophoretically identified individuals of both species, collected from Stone Harbor, N.J. Stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that four of these characters (width of the scape, width of the frons dorsally, width of the head, and total length) provide complete discrimination between the two species. A key for separating adult females of the two species is provided.