TABANID^ OF OHIO. 7 



wet places, and where the larva attains its full growth, the change 

 to the pupa of course takes place; and as the pupa cannot trans- 

 port itself it is evident that most adults issue in the vicinity of 

 water or marshy ground. The only exception to this I have 

 noted is when the larva or pupa has been carried to remote 

 places by high water. It is not an uncommon thing to meet with 

 teneral specimens of various species clinging to grasses, reeds 

 and other plants growing in wet ground, waiting for their wings 

 to harden. At such times males and females are theoretically 

 equal in numbers, and although not always as distinctly marked 

 as older specimens, they are nevertheless desirable. The sexes 

 of Chrysops may be procured thus when other efforts come to 

 naught. 



As is well known only the females suck blood, and are there- 

 fore the only sex that molests stock. The males procure their 

 food from plants and consequently are to be looked for on flowers 

 and foliage. In an endeavor to satisfy myself whether or not 

 the females visit flowers, I have taken from various blossoms the 

 past summer no less than half a dozen females of different species, 

 but not in a single instance have I taken the male from animals. 

 The statement appears in print that females visit flowers for food 

 when they are compelled to do so, but it is probable that their 

 visits to flowers are not necessarily compulsary on their part. It 

 seems more plausible that these visits are made at times from 

 choice. 



The females of Chrysops and some of the species of Tabanus 

 come buzzing around the collector in numbers, and at such times 

 may be taken easily with a net. The majority of the species of 

 Tabanus in this region, however, are very active, and as they 

 seldom alight on man for the purpose of sucking blood, not many 

 are taken in the way just stated. 



During the time the female is ovipositing the male is often 

 resting near by on the foliage. At Georgesville, Ohio, June 4th, 

 I observed C. moechus ovipositing on foliage overhanging a mill 

 race ; soon after specimens of the male sex were observed resting 

 on the upper leaves of the same plant on which the females were 

 oviposing. In a few minutes collecting, a dozen or more spec- 

 imens of each of the sexes were procured. 



The sexes of many species of Tabanus often alight on the 

 bare ground of paths or roads that run through the woods. At 

 Cincinnati, June loth, in company with Mr. Dury, we procured 

 numbers of the sexes of different species resting on some fur- 

 rows that were plowed around a woods to prevent the spread of 

 fire. We also took the same species resting in paths and roads 

 that ran through the woods. Some of these same species were 



