Philipomyia aprica

Philipomyia aprica is a species of 'horse flies' of the family Tabanidae, subfamily Tabaninae.[1] For a further discussion of the family of insects, see entry for horse-fly.

Philipomyia aprica
Philipomyia aprica. Male
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Hexapoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Tabanidae
Genus:
Philipomyia
Species:
P. aprica
Binomial name
Philipomyia aprica
Meigen, 1820
Synonyms
  • Tabanus aprica Meigen, 1820
  • Tabanus infuscatus Loew, 1858
  • Tabanus zizaniae Leclercq, 1967

Distribution

This 'horse fly' is present in most of Europe and in the Near East (Caucasia, Turkey, Iran) .[2][3]

Description
Philipomyia aprica, female, close-up on eyes

The adult females grow up to 18 millimetres (0.71 in) long. Their large compound eyes are bright green, without hairs and ocular bands. The terminal of antennae is brownish-black. The thorax is dark-brown and quite hairy. The abdomen has clearer bands at the end of each black tergite. Wings and legs are yellowish-brown. Halteres are brownish-yellow.[4][5]

Biology

These common horse flies can be encountered in Summer in high mountain at an altitude of over 2000 meters during the daylight hours, when they mainly feed on nectar of flowers (especially of Apiaceae species). Females attack mainly horses and cattle.

References
  1. Biolib
  2. Fauna europaea
  3. Catalogue of life
  4. Stjepan Krčmar, Davorka Hackenberger, Branimir K. Hackenberger Key to the horse flies fauna of Croatia (Diptera, Tabanidae) Periodicum Biologorum 113:5-33
  5. George C. Steyskal, G. Ya BejBienko - Keys to The Insects of The European Part of The USSR - Oxonian Press, 1988
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