Tabanidae (Diptera) from Tai National Park, Cote-d’Ivoire with description of three new species

Eight genera and 29 species of Tabanidae were collected from Tai National Park in southwest Cote-d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in 1989 and 1990. Rhigioglossa (Dasycompsa) montonenae sp. n., Tabanus menoensis sp. n., Tabanus taiensis sp. n. and the female of Sphecodemyia infuscata are described. Our material suggests that Tabanus secedens Walker s. lat. should be split into the nominal forms: Tabanus gabonensis Macquart, Tabanus kingsleyi Ricardo, Tabanus regnaulti Surcouf and Tabanus secedens Walker. The type of Tabanus conformis Walker is declared to be of oriental origin, and the former type Tabanus socialis Walker is reinstated as the type of the African specimens formerly identified as T. conformis. Chrysops langi Bequaert, Thriambeutes singularis Grunberg, Rhigioglossa apiformis Neave, T. gabonensis and Haematopota bowdeni Oldroyd are recorded for the first time from Cote-d’Ivoire. The varied tabanid fauna of Tai National Park further supports the importance of the Upper Guinea Forest block as a centre of faunal diversity in Africa.