虻科科

概述

成年的虻拥有很大的复眼，三节的短触角，以及很宽的身体。雌性个体的复眼分得很开，而雄性的两个复眼之间距离较近。一般来说，活体的虻体色很鲜明，但被制成标本后色泽较为暗淡。其触角的末节尖锐而粘稠，外形是由几个锥形的的环组成的结构；其触角上并无纤毛或刺状突起。头部及胸部均被短毛所覆盖，但其体表并无刚毛。拥有透明的膜状前翅，色泽一般为灰色或褐色，在某些种类（物种）中则有图案。

分类

• 根据ITIS，虻科分为:
• 下科Chrysopsinae:
• Merycomyia
• Chrysops
• Neochrysops
• Silvius
• 下科Pangoniinae:
• Apatolestes
• Asaphomyia
• Brennania
• Esenbeckia
• Pangonia
• Pegasomyia
• Stonemyia
• Goniops
• 下科Tabaninae:
• Anacimas
• Bolbodimyia
• Catachlorops
• Chlorotabanus
• Diachlorus
• Dichelacera
• Holcopsis
• Lepiselaga
• Leucotabanus
• Microtabanus
• Stenotabanus
• Haematopota
• Agkistrocerus
• Atylotus
• Hamatabanus
• Hybomitra
• Poeciloderas
• Tabanus
• Whitneyomyia
• 未分下科
• Zophina

Horse flies and deer flies are true flies in the family Tabanidae in the insect order Diptera. The adults are often large and agile in flight. Females parasitize land vertebrates, including humans, biting them to obtain blood,female flies require a high protein diet.They prefer to fly in sunlight, avoiding dark and shady areas, and are inactive at night. They are found all over the world except for some islands and the polar regions (Hawaii, Greenland, Iceland). Both horse flies and botflies (Oestridae) are sometimes referred to as gadflies. Contrary to popular belief, horse flies cannot see infrared light or otherwise detect heat at a distance.

Adult horse flies feed on nectar and plant exudates; males have weak mouthparts, but females have mouthparts strong enough to puncture the skin of large animals. This is for the purpose of obtaining enough protein from blood to produce eggs. The mouthparts of females are formed into a stout stabbing organ with two pairs of sharp cutting blades, and a spongelike part used to lap up the blood that flows from the wound. The larvae are predaceous and grow in semiaquatic habitats.

Female horse flies can transfer blood-borne diseases from one animal to another through their feeding habit. In areas where those diseases occur, they have been known to carry equine infectious anaemia virus, some trypanosomes, the filarial worm Loa loa, anthrax among cattle and sheep, and tularemia. They can reduce growth rates in cattle and lower the milk output of cows if suitable shelters are not provided.

Horse flies have long appeared in literature. The father of Greek tragedy, Aeschylus, depicts a gadfly (Ancient Greek: μύωψ, mýops) driving Io to madness in Prometheus Bound through its relentless pursuit. The philosopher Socrates later adopted the gadfly as an ironic mascot for his persistent questioning of those who spoke with him.