Diptera:Brachycera

Question 1

Name the family of veterinary importance in the suborder Brachycera

Answer 1

Tabanidae

Question 2

Name 3 genera of importance in the family Tabanidae

Answer 2

Tabanus(horse flies)
Haematopota(clegs)
Chrysops(deer flies)

Question 3

Differentiate the 3 genera of Tabanidae based on wing appearance

Answer 3

Tabanus have clear or brown wings
Chrysops have clear wings with dark bands across them
Clegs have mottled or speckled wings

Question 4

Describe the morphological features of adult flies of the family Tabanidae

Answer 4

Reduced antennae segmentation 3 segments only
Large head with a prominent proboscis
Female eyes dichoptic, male holoptic
They are dark with stripes or patches of colour on their abdomen

Question 5

Describe the morphological features of tabanidae larvae

Answer 5

Spindle-shaped, off-white in colour,segmented and have a cuticle with longitudinal striations.

Question 6

Describe the life cycle of Chrysops

Answer 6

After a blood meal,the female lays batches of eggs on the underside of vegetation or on stones in muddy or marshy areas. The eggs hatch in 1-2 wks after which larvae are dropped in the mud. The larvae have a x-stic tabanid grabbers organ and are segmented. They sluggishly feed on decaying organic matter or predate on smaller arthropods. They then pupate while partially buried in mud. Pupation takes 1-3 wks then the adults emerge.

Question 7

Explain the pathogenic significance of clegs and deer flies

Answer 7

They inflict deep painful bites and mechanically transmit anthrax, trypanosomiasis, Anaplosmosis and human filarial worms