Biting flies of the eastern Maritime Provinces of Canada. I. Tabanidae

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Abstract
Fifty-seven species of Tabanidae are recorded from maritime Canada. Thirty-one species have been collected during the period 1973–1976 in the Maritime Provinces, particularly in the Nova Scotia–New Brunswick border region. Larval and pupal habitats were not determined. Feeding habits of 20 species of tabanids were determined; 15 species were collected feeding on man, and 9 species feeding on cattle. Chrysops mitis was the most abundant deer fly and accounted for 14.5% of the tabanid population, 37.1% of the deer flies collected, and 52.6% of the deer flies feeding on man. Hybomitra epistates was the most abundant tabanid; it comprised 19.7% of the tabanids collected and 32.6% of the Hybomitra population. Hybomitra frontalis was the most abundant horse fly feeding on man, and comprised 74.2% of this group. Chrysops frigidus accounted for 42.9% of the deer flies feeding on cattle, while H. typhus Form A accounted for 50% of the horse flies feeding on cattle. Hybomitra illota was the most abundant tabanid collected in tabanid traps. Generally, species of Chrysops were more annoying to man while species of Hybomitra were more of a pest of cattle. Specimens of Tabanus were uncommon.