Larval habitats of Tabanus subsimilis subsimilis Bellardi in southeast Texas (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Tabanus subsimilis subsimilis Bellardi is abundant, widespread and seasonal throughout some southern states of the United States. Hitherto, knowledge of its larval habitat was based on 4 collections. Three pupae and 180 larvae have now been taken from diverse habitats in south Texas: established lawn turf (St. Augustine grass, (Stenotaphrum secundatum) and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)), grassy seepage areas from domestic septic tanks and sink drains, flower beds containing bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) and Chrysanthemum spp. (1 locality) and Canna lilies (2 localities), compost beneath a fallen rotted tree in a forst, and levees of flooded rice-fields. The most heavily populated sites were characterised by upland locations, mineral soils, absence of standing water and soil moisture provided by seepage. This information suggests T. s. submilis is a highly adaptive and generalised soil insect, not depending on the niches usually associated with Tabanid breeding in lowlands. Its occurrence in both uplands and lowlands suggests the larva has wide adaptive limits regarding habitat requirements.