Tabanidae (Diptera) of saudi arabia

H M Al Dhafer; H A Dawah; M A Abdullah

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2009.10.004

Tabanidae (Diptera) of saudi arabia

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2009 Oct;16(2):77-83. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2009.10.004.

Authors

H M Al Dhafer¹, H A Dawah, M A Abdullah

Affiliation

¹ King Saud University, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Samples were collected from southern, central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia using Malaise traps and sweep nets. Nine species of Tabanidae were identified, two for the first time from Saudi Arabia, Hybomitra peculiaris (Szilády) and Atylotus pulchellus (Loew). Therefore, the total number of Tabanidae in Saudi Arabia is 31 species. Remarks of the species recorded in this study were given. A key to the genera of Tabanidae occurring in the Arabian Peninsula is also provided. Available literature for Saudi Arabian Tabanidae is summarized and provided. It is concluded that the tabanid fauna of Saudi Arabia is more similar to that of the Palaearctic region than to the Afrotropical region.

Keywords: Horseflies; Key to genera; New records; Saudi Arabia; Tabanidae.