FLIES, MOSQUITOES, AND MIDGES 



22 9 



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-fl ies ( Tabanidae) . 



FlG. 361. Horse-fly (Tabanus atratus) 

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



They are well-known 

 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 

 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 



, , FIG. -162. A "green-head" (Tabanus lineola Fab.). 



swampy places and (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 



