Acarine associates of horse flies and deer flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in North America

Specimens of 13 families of mites were recovered from 18 species of adult tabanids (in the genera Chrysops, Hybomitra and Tabanus) in Quebec (Canada), Connecticut and Alabama (USA). The majority of mites were phoretic deutonymphs of 4 astigmatid families: Acaridae (Schwiebea ?), Hemisarcoptidae (Congovidia and Divilia), Histiostomatidae (Bonomoia) and Winterschmidtiidae (Calvolia). The second largest group of mites were parasitic larvae of the Parasitengona represented by the Trombidiidae (Trombidium and Platytrombidium), Erythraeidae (Leptus) and Tyrrelliidae (Tyrrellia). The following 6 families were also found on tabanids but probably represent only incidental associations: Pygmephoridae, Microdispidae, Tarsonemidae, Eriophyidae, Ascidae and Oppiidae. Adult tabanids presumably pick up most of these mites while resting on trees and other vegetation. Water mite larvae of the genus Tyrrellia are exceptions and probably attach to adult tabanids as they emerge from their breeding sites.