Population densities of Tabanid larvae in two farm pond habitats in east central Alabama

Two farm ponds near Auburn, Alabama, provided habitats that supported relatively high densities of larvae of Tabanids (Tabanus and Chrysops spp.). An average of 4.02 larvae/ft2 was found in 486 1-ft2 samples from two sites. The more productive yielded an average of 4.66 larvae/ft2 in 260 1-ft2 samples. The average number of larvae/ft2 found at this site was over 2.4 times that found at Site 2. A porous substrate, which may have provided better habitats for both Tabanids and their prey species, is believed to be the best explanation of the increased survival of larvae of Tabanus spp. at that site. The presence throughout the year of larvae of various sizes of the large species of Tabanids indicated that some species may require two or more years to complete their life-cycle in east-central Alabama.