The Tabanidae of ’Rahad Turda’ in Eastern Kordofan Province, Sudan

In view of the harm done to livestock by Tabanids in the Kordofan province of the Sudan and the potential importance of these flies in the mechanical transmission of various diseases of animals, an investigation of their distribution, ecology and seasonal abundance in El Rahad area of the province was begun in 1965. Adults were collected from cattle and camels round the Rahad Turda by catchers using nets. The species taken were Atylotus agrestis (Wied.), A. fuscipes (Ric.), Tabanus taeniola P. de B., T. gratus Lw. and Philoliche magretti (Bez.). The seasonal abundance of the first three species, which predominated, was observed over a period of two consecutive years (1965 and 1966). T. taeniola appeared with the onset of the rains in May, and its numbers rose gradually to a peak in August and thereafter fell gradually. A. agrestis and A. fuscipes were present more or less throughout the year in limited numbers, populations rising immediately after the end of the rains to peaks about two months later (in July or August). The other two species occurred in small numbers in August. The females are attracted to cattle and camels and follow them for considerable distances. They were also seen resting on the branches of Acacia trees, as were the males of the 3 dominant species. Larvae of these three species were found at the edges of the pool at a depth of 2-5 cm and pupae at a depth of 2-3 cm below the surface of the soil. Eggs were occasionally seen on aquatic grasses.