FLIES, MOSQUITOES, AND MIDGES 



229 



SHORT-HORNED FLIES (BRACHYCERA} 



In this section the antennae are composed of from three to five 

 segments, the families being divided into three groups according 



to the structure of the 

 antennae, and being fur- 

 ther distinguished by 

 the wing-venation. 



In the first group the 

 third segment of the an- 

 tenna is clearly ringed, 

 .showing that it is made 

 up of several segments 

 grown together. 



Horse-flies. The best- 

 known family of this 

 group is that of the 

 horse-flies (Tabanidae). 

 They are well-known 



FlG. 361. Horse-fly (Tabanus at rat us} 

 a, larva; b, pupa; c, adult. (After Riley) 



pests of live stock and often become annoying to man. The adults 

 have short, broad heads, -large eyes, thick bodies, short, oval abdo- 

 mens, and strong, powerful wings, which enable them to outstrip the 

 swiftest horse. They 



j 



are often most trouble- 

 some along wooded 

 roads, where they will 

 attack a horse in 

 swarms and, with their 

 loud buzzing, render 

 the animal frantic. 

 The larvae are long, 

 pointed maggots which 

 live mostly in water in 

 swampy places and 



FIG. 362. A 



green-head" (Tabanus Ihieola Fab.). 



(Much enlarged) 

 along the edges Of (After Lugger) 



streams and ponds, 



and are carnivorous. In the swamp lands of southern Texas and 

 Louisiana the large horse-flies appear in such swarms as to make 

 life for cattle almost impossible, and along our coasts wherever 



