Summer flight activity patterns of Tabanus abactor (Diptera : Tabanidae) Philip in the Texas Rolling Plains

Flight activity of Tabanus abactor Philip was monitored for five years from 1994 to 1998 on the Y Ranch in the Texas Rolling Plains. White bucket traps suspended 1 m above ground and brown board traps placed on the ground were coated with polyisobutlene to ensnare the flies. Study locations were confined to areas dominated by redberry juniper, Juniperus pinchoti Sudw. There were two activity cycles each year, but peak periods of activity were not consistent among years. In three years, the first peak occurred between mid- and late June, but in the other two years the first peak in numbers did not occur until after mid-July. Population trends were similar on the board and bucket traps, although board traps captured 60% more flies than bucket traps. Fly numbers ranged from 14.0 to 66.3 per week on board traps in 1998 and 1995, respectively. Correlation analyses indicated that numbers of flies captured on sticky traps were enhanced by rainfall and were suppressed by high temperatures.

Summer flight activity patterns of Tabanus abactor (Diptera : Tabanidae) Philip in the Texas Rolling Plains Academic Article