Faunal composition and seasonal distribution of tabanids in three geographic regions of eastern Tennessee (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Surveys for tabanids were conducted in 1977 and 1978 by means of canopy traps and hand nets, at 4 localities in the Cumberland Plateau, the Tennessee Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee. A total of 22 596 tabanids in 66 species and 9 genera was collected, and 4 species (Chrysops calvus Pechuman & Teskey, Atylotus ohioensis (Hine), Whitneyomyia beatifica Whitney (beatifica atricorpus Philip) and Hybomitra typhus (Whitney)) were new records for Tennessee. T. quinquevittatus Wied. was dominant in localities near large areas of damp pasture, and H. difficilis (Wied.) predominated in upland areas. Many species were abundant only at high altitudes, but most species common at low altitudes were also fairly common in the uplands. The largest numbers of species and individuals were collected in late June and early July in most areas, with a peak in late May and a smaller one in late August or September. Seasonal distribution data for some major species are discussed.