Tabanidae of Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains 1: a ...

Tabanidae of Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains 1: a photographic key to the 

species of Chrysopsinae and Pangoniinae (Diptera: Tabanidae) 

CJAI 08, June 21, 2009 

doi: 10.3752/cjai.2009.08 

Anthony W. Thomas* and Stephen A. Marshall** 

*Fredericton, New Brunswick, mothman@nbnet.nb.ca **Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, 

Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada, samarsha@uoguelph.ca. Abstract. The family Tabanidae is characterized and interactive 

photographic keys are provided to the 3 subfamilies of Tabanidae in Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. 

Abstract. The family Tabanidae is characterized and interactive 

photographic keys are provided to the 3 subfamilies of Tabanidae in 

Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. Keys are also provided for the 

genera and species of the subfamily Chrysopsinae of this region 

(including 40 species of Chrysops Meigen [deer flies] and one species of 

Merycomyia Hine) and the genera and species of the subfamily 

Pangoniinae (one species of Goniops Aldrich and two species of 

Stonemyia Brennan) occurring in eastern and central Canada. 

Distribution maps for all species are provided, incorporating significant 

additional records since the most recently published maps (Teskey, 

1990). 

Chrysops sackeni

Introduction 

Horse flies and deer flies (family Tabanidae) are familiar to most Canadians, both for the persistence and painful bites of the 

blood-sucking females, and for the distinctive appearance of the large, often colorful adults. Horse flies and deer flies are 

much better known than most insects in Canada, in no small part because of the excellent account of all Canadian species 

in Teskey’s (1990) “The Horse Flies and Deer Flies of Canada and Alaska”. In the introduction to that volume, he describes 

it as “the first modern attempt to fulfill the requirements for identifying all the currently recognized species of Tabanidae of 

Canada and Alaska, and to plot collection records of these species, thus giving an indication of their distribution”. We feel it 

is time to re-address the “requirements for identifying … species of Tabanidae”, and not just because Teskey’s book is out 

of print and difficult to obtain. More importantly, Tabanidae lend themselves to identification using a range of colour and 

structural characters that were not practical to include in Teskey (1990) but that are ideal for treatment in a digital key 

copiously illustrated with colour photographs. We therefore here initiate a series of new guides to tabanid identification 

taking full advantage of newly available tools for the capture and dissemination of digital images. The present contribution is 

a key to the Canadian Chrysopsinae and Pangoniinae, east of the Rocky Mountains. A key to the eastern Canadian species 

of the third subfamily, the Tabaninae, will follow as a separate publication. These keys are to females only, since male 

Tabanidae are not commonly encountered. Males are keyed in Teskey (1990), however the key to males is considerably 

less reliable than the key to females. 

Distribution maps herein are based on the maps in Teskey (1990), with the addition of post-1990 records from the 

University of Guelph Insect Collection (Department of Environmental Biology; DEBU), from the senior authors’ personal 

collection (AWT), and from some post-1990 papers including Hurlburt et al. (2008) and Butt et al. (2008).

Table of Contents 

A. General 

1 Introduction 

2 Morphological characteristics of the family Tabanidae 

B. Key to subfamilies and genera of Pangoniinae and Chrysopsinae east of the Rocky Mountains. 

C. Checklist of Canadian Pangoniinae & Chrysopsinae species east of the Rocky Mountains 

1 Subfamily Pangoniinae 

2 Subfamily Chrysopsinae 

D. Generic diagnoses and keys to species (females only) 

1 Key to Stonemyia females 

2 Goniops 

3 Merycomyia 

3 Key to Chrysops females 

E. Taxonomic treatment of Chrysops species 

1 Single species plates see Checklist 

2 Comparison of abdominal patterns List of Plates 

3 Comparison of face patterns List of Plates 

F. Distribution Maps 

G. Acknowledgements 

H. References 

I. Gallery of live images

Characteristics of the family Tabanidae 

The family Tabanidae, including 3 subfamilies in North America, is 

characterized by a combination of the following ten characters: 

Three similar flattened pads (pulvilli) beneath the tarsal claws at the tip 

of the tarsus (Fig. 1). In most fly families there are 2 lateral pulvilli (one right, 

one left) and a central bristle-like empodium. In tabanids and a few related 

families the empodium resembles a lateral pulvillus. 

Fig. 1. Ventral view of tarsus of mid leg of female Hybomitra nuda (McDunnough) 

showing the pulvilliform empodium (microscope slide preparation). 

page 1 of 4 

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Antenna with a scape, pedicel and annulated flagellum (Fig. 2a); the basal flagellomeres 

(segments of the flagellum), may be fused into a plate (Fig. 2b) and the apical 

flagellomeres may be fused into a stylus (Fig. 2b); 

Fig. 2a. Antenna of female 

Chrysops niger. 

Fig. 2b. Antenna of female 

Hybomitra affinis (Kirby). 


Previous page Next page.

Costa vein (C) extending beyond the apex of the wing (Fig. 3a) 

Radial cell 1 (r 1 ) in wing open to C (Fig. 3b) 

Fused radial veins 2 and 3 (R 2+3 ) meeting C far beyond end of radial vein 1 

(R 1 ) (Fig. 3a) 

Discal cell of wing much longer than wide (Fig. 3b) 

Wing venation with a widely divergent fork near apex of wing such that veins 

R4 and R5 always terminate on either side of wing tip (Figs. 3a, 3b) 

Fig. 3a. Wing of 

Chrysops excitans 

Fig. 3b. Wing of 

Hybomitra nuda 



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Subscutellum strongly developed (only slightly enlarged in Stonemyia) although usually 

hidden below the large scutellum (Fig. 4b) 

First abdominal tergite deeply notched at middle of hind margin (Fig. 4b) 

Upper and lower calypteres large and subequal (Fig. 4c) 

Fig. 4a, b. Dorsal view of Hybomitra affinis. 

Fig. 4c. Base of right wing of female Tabanus novaescotiae Macquart. 


Previous page Checklist

Key to subfamilies and genera of Pangoniinae & Chrysopsinae east of 

the Rocky Mountains (key reliable for females only) 

Fig. 5. Vertex of 

Stonemyia tranquilla (Pangoniinae) 

Fig. 7. Vertex of Tabanus nigrovittatus 

(Tabaninae) 

Fig. 6. Hind tibia of 

Chrysops excitans (Chrysopsinae) . 

Fig. 8. Hind tibia of 

Hybomitra nuda (Tabaninae) . 

1 Three well-developed ocelli on vertex (Fig. 5). Hind tibia with apical spurs (large in 

Stonemyia spp., small but just visible with a x10 hand lens in Chrysops spp. (Fig. 

6), extremely small in Merycomyia). 

Ocelli absent (Fig. 7) (but there is a similar-looking single raised ocellar tubercle in 

Hybomitra spp.) Hind tibia without apical spurs (Fig. 8) (but such spurs present on 

mid tibia). 

2 

CHRYSOPSINAE 

and 

PANGONIINAE 

TABANINAE (not 

included in this 

key)

Fig. 9. Antenna of Stonemyia tranquilla 

Fig. 10. Antenna of Chrysops niger 

2 (1) Antennal scape "square" or slightly longer than wide; pedicel much shorter than wide (Fig. 

9). 

Scape and pedicel much longer than wide (Fig. 10). Chrysopsinae (in part). Chrysops 

3

3 (2) Flagellum with more than 3 flagellomeres (Fig. 11). Small to medium flies, length 

less than 15 mm. 

Fig. 11. Antenna of Stonemyia tranquilla 

Fig. 12.Merycomyia whitneyi. 

Flagellum with 3 flagellomeres. Large flies, length greater than 18 mm (Fig. 12). 

Chrysopsinae (in part). 

4: PANGONIINAE 

Merycomyia

Fig. 13. Wing of Stonemyia tranquilla Fig. 14. Vertex of Stonemyia tranquilla 

Fig.15. Wing of Goniops chrysocoma 

Fig. 16. Vertex of Goniops chrysocoma 

4 (3) Wing membrane without dark markings (Fig. 13). Eye with inner upper corner forming a 

right-angle (Fig. 14). Scutellum with erect bristles underneath. 

Wing membrane darkened basally and apically (Fig. 15). Eye with an acute inner upper 

angle (Fig. 16). Scutellum bare underneath. 

Stonemyia 

Goniops

Checklist of Pangoniinae & Chrysopsinae species east of the Rocky Mountains 

SF: Pangoniinae: 

Stonemyia Brennan 

S. rasa (Loew) 

S. tranquilla (Osten Sacken) 

Goniops Aldrich 

G. chrysocoma (Osten Sacken) 

SF: Chrysopsinae: 

Merycomyia Hine 

M. whitneyi (Johnson) 

Chrysops Meigen 

C. aberrans Philip 

C. aestuans Van der Wulp 

C. ater Macquart 

C. brunneus Hine 

C. callidus Osten Sacken 

C. calvus Pechuman & Teskey 

C. carbonarius Walker 

C. celatus Pechuman 

C. cincticornis Walker 

C. cuclux Whitney 

C. dawsoni Philip 

C. delicatulus Osten Sacken 

C. discalis Williston 

C. excitans Walker 

C. flavidus Wiedemann 

C. frigidus Osten Sacken 

C. fuliginosus Wiedemann 

C. fulvaster Osten Sacken 

C. furcatus Walker 

C. geminatus Wiedemann 

C. impunctus Kröber 

C. indus Osten sacken 

C. lateralis Wiedemann 

C. luteopennis Philip 

C. macquarti Philip 

C. mitis Osten Sacken 

C. moechus Osten Sacken 

C. montanus Osten Sacken 

C. niger Macquart 

C. nigripes Zetterstedt 

C. pikei Whitney 

C. pudicus Osten Sacken 

C. sackeni Hine 

C. shermani Hine 

C. sordidus Osten Sacken 

C. striatus Osten Sacken 

C. univittatus Macquart 

C. venus Philip 

C. vittatus Wiedemann 

C. zinzalus Philip

Key to the Stonemyia females of Canada east of the Rocky 

Mountains 

The two eastern species in this genus are similar and are usually 

separated on the basis of differences in the colour of the legs and/or 

colour of the abdomen (Teskey 1990, Pechuman 1981; Pechuman et 

al. 1961). However, because of within-species variability and wear, it 

may not always be possible to identify every specimen to species. 

Pechuman (1981) found that all the Adirondack (New York) records of 

S. rasa (Loew) were misidentified specimens of S. tranquilla (Osten 

Sacken). 

Stonemyia tranquilla flies from mid July–late August and has a more 

northern distribution than S. rasa, which flies from late July- 

September. Both are 11-13mm in length. 

Key here. 

Distribution maps S. rasa, S. tranquilla. 

return to start of key to subfamilies and genera of Tabanidae

eturn to 

start of key 

to subfamilies 

and genera 

of Tabanidae 

Fig. 17. Stonemyia rasa Fig. 18. Stonemyia tranquilla 

1 Pale posterior margins of abdominal tergites with grayish hairs (sometimes worn off) that 

may be expanded anteriorly to form median triangles (Fig.17). Costal cell and wing 

membrane clear (Fig. 17). Sides of anterior tergites sometimes pale but never orange (Fig. 

17). Legs reddish brown to dark brown (Fig. 17). 

Back to Checklist. Distribution map. Back to genus introduction 

Pale posterior margins with golden hairs (but hairs absent or pale in worn individuals), pale 

areas not expanded anteriorly to form pale median triangles (Fig. 18); sides of tergites 2-4 

with variable amounts of orange (Fig. 18); costal cell and apices of cell beyond the stigma 

yellow (Fig. 18); at least femora black. 

Back to Checklist. Distribution map. Back to genus introduction 

rasa 

tranquilla

eturn to 



and genera 


There is only one species in this genus: G. chrysocoma (Figs. 19, 20). 

A medium-sized (length 12-14 mm) pale tabanid not known to feed on blood. The wing 

pattern (Fig. 15), the wide face, and the acute dorsal angle of the eye (Fig. 16) are 

characteristic. 

Flight dates in Canada: mid July. 

Distribution map . Back to Checklist 

Goniops 

© Troy Bartlett © Troy Bartlett http://bugguide.net/user/view/7 

Fig. 19. Goniops chrysocoma Fig. 20 Goniops chrysocoma 

Male Goniops chrysocoma (S.Marshall)

eturn to 



and genera 


Merycomyia female 

There is only one species found in Canada: M. whitneyi (Fig. 21). 

A large tabanid, length 19-23mm, resembling the larger species of Tabanus but distinctive 

for the 3 well-developed ocelli. 

In Canada known only from 2 specimens collected on the shores of Lake Ontario (Teskey 

1990) and 3 specimens collected in southwest Nova Scotia (Hurlburt et al. 2008). 

Flight dates in Ontario: 20 July and 4 August (Teskey 1990). 

Distribution map. Back to Checklist 

http://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1487008 

Fig. 21. Merycomyia whitneyi

Genus Chrysops Meigen 

Tabanids in the genus Chrysops are the common deer flies with black, black 

and yellow, brownish or smoky bodies and dark wing markings. They are 

relatively small (5-12 mm long) and some species are annoying pests of 

humans, especially in wooded areas. Thirty-eight of 45 Canadian species are 

found in Canada east of Manitoba (Teskey 1990), but by including 2 prairie 

species (Chrysops discalis Williston and Chrysops fulvaster Osten Sacken) this 

account will cover all 40 species known from east of the Rocky Mountains. 

Sexual dimorphism is large in some species but females can be recognized by 

their dichoptic eyes (Fig. 22) and males by their holoptic eyes (Fig. 23). 

The following key applies only to females as this is the gender most commonly 

encountered (males are relatively rare). Teskey (1990) provided a key to and 

descriptions of the males of all the Canadian species but gave no images. 

Males are relatively difficult to reliably identify. 

Features of the head (Fig. 24) and wing infuscation pattern (Fig. 25), as well as 

body colour and pattern (Figs. 26, 28), are used extensively for the 

identification of species. 

Key here return to start of key to subfamilies and genera of Tabanidae

Fig. 22. Female Chrysops lateralis 

Fig. 23. Male Chrysops lateralis 

Fig. 24. Features of head, female Chrysops 

Fig. 25. Wing pattern, female Chrysops 

Back to Chrysops introduction page

eturn to 


to 

subfamilies 

and genera 

of 

Tabanidae 

Back to 

Chrysops 

intro. page 

Key to the Chrysops females of Canada east of the Rocky Mountains 

Fig. 26 Fig. 27 

Fig. 28 Fig. 29 

1 Abdominal tergites entirely black (sometimes with an indefinite pattern due to grayish hairs) 

(Fig. 26); apex of wing beyond crossband clear, at most with an occasional indefinite dark or 

smoky area along costa in cell r1 (Fig. 27) . 6 spp. 

Abdominal tergites never all black, commonly with yellow/orange areas, rarely mostly 

yellowish brown or dark smoky brown (Fig. 28); wing with or without dark apical spot beyond 

crossband (Fig. 29) . 34 spp. 

2 

7

Return to start of key 

Fig. 30. C. calvus 

. 

Fig. 32. C. carbonarius 

Fig. 31. C. calvus Fig. 33. C. mitis 

2(1) Wing with cell bm completely hyaline (Fig. 30); clypeus yellow without median pruinose stripe 

(Fig. 31). 2 spp. 

Wing with cell bm at least one-third infuscated (Fig. 32); clypeus black with yellow median 

pruinose stripe (Fig. 33). 4 spp. 

3 

4

Return to 


Fig. 34 

Fig. 39 

central 

spot 

Fig. 36 

Fig. 37 

Fig. 35 

Fig. 38 

3 (2) Pale lateral and sublateral thoracic stripes distinct and bright yellow (Fig. 34). Glossy ocellar 

prominence large and continuous with glossy vertex and occipital sclerite (Fig. 35); eye 

pattern (in life) with short dorsal extension of central spot (Fig. 36). 

Pale lateral and sublateral thoracic stripes indistinct and dull (Fig. 37). Glossy ocellar 

prominence small and separated from glossy occiptal sclerite by the pruinose vertex (Fig. 38); 

eye pattern (in life) with long dorsal extension of central spot (Fig. 39). 

calvus 

niger


Fig. 40. C. cincticornis 


4 (2) Hairs on side of thorax intense orange (Fig. 40) cincticornis 

Hairs on side of thorax pale yellow/gray (Fig. 41). 3 spp. 5


Fig. 42. C. mitis 


Fig. 46. Wing of mitis 

5 (4) Base of wing cell cua1 infuscated (dark) (Fig. 42) mitis 

Base of cell cua1 with distinct hyaline (clear) spot (Fig. 43). 2 spp. 6


Fig. 44. C. ater 


6 (5) Crossband of wing not reaching hind margin, its outer margin irregular (Fig. 44) ater 

Crossband extends to outer margin, its outer margin straighter (Fig. 45) carbonarius


Fig. 46. C. excitans . . Fig. 47. C. vittatus . 

7 (1) Clypeus with yellow pruinose stripe (Fig. 46); clypeus usually black (yellow in discalis and 

fulvaster). 10 spp. 

Clypeus lacking pruinose stripe (Fig. 47); clypeus shiny yellow. 24 spp. 

8 

17

Return to 

start of 

key 

Fig. 48. C. sordidus Fig. 49 C. sordidus Fig. 51. C. frigidus 

Fig. 50 C. sordidus . 

bm 

Fig. 52. C. nigripes . 

8 (7) Abdominal tergites mostly black but with gray posterior borders that expand anteriorly in 

midline to form large gray triangles on tergites 2, 3, 4 (Fig. 48); yellow areas restricted to 

lateral patches on tergites 1 & 2, these patches may be very small (Fig. 49). Wing cell bm 

hyaline , rarely with small basal infuscation, apical costal margin either hyaline or with 

smoky tinge that may resemble a weak apical spot (Fig. 50) 

Not with the above combination of characters; tergites with more yellow and distinct apical 

spot (Fig. 51); if tergites mostly black then cell bm at least 1/3 infuscated (Fig. 52). 9 spp. 

sordidus 

9


Fig. 53. 

C. excitans 

C. cuclux 

C. dawsoni 

Fig. 54. 

C. discalis, C. fulvaster 

C. venus, C. nigripes 

C. frigidus, C. zinzalus 

9 (8) No apical spot beyond crossband but may be some weak infuscation in cell r1 that is not the 

same density as crossband (Fig. 53). 3 spp. 

Distinct apical spot as dark as crossband (Fig. 54). 6 spp. 12 

10

Return 

to start 

of key 

Fig. 55. C. excitans 

tergite 1 

tergite 2 

Fig. 56 

C. cuclux 

C. dawsoni 

10 (9) Median abdominal triangles present, large on tergite 2, laterally tergites 1 & 2 often 

extensively yellow/orange (Fig. 55) 

excitans 

Median triangles absent, pale lateral spots on tergites 1 & 2 small (Fig. 56). 2 spp. 11

Return 

to start 


Fig. 57. C. cuclux 

Fig. 58. C. dawsoni . 

11 (10) Wing pattern pale (Fig. 57) cuclux 

Wing pattern saturate (Fig. 58) dawsoni


Fig.59. 

C. discalis 

C. fulvaster 

facial callus 

12 (9) Facial callus yellow, (Fig. 59). Manitoba west. 2 spp. 13 

Facial callus black (Fig. 60). Eastern, west to Alberta. 4 spp. 14 

. 

Fig. 60. 

C. venus C. nigripes 

C. frigidus C. zinzalus


Fig. 61. C. discalis 

Fig. 62. C. fulvaster 

13 (12) Frontal callus black, half width of frons (Fig. 59). Bifurcation at wing vein R4+5 with isolated 

spot, cell bm hyaline, wing cell below stem vein hyaline (Fig. 61) 

Frontal callus wider than high, suboval yellow to marginally black (Fig. 59). No spot at 

bifurcation of R4+5, cell bm about one-third infuscated , wing cell below stem vein 

infuscated (Fig. 62) 

discalis 

fulvaster


Fig. 63. C. venus 

Fig. 64. C. venus 

Fig. 65. 

C. nigripes 

C. frigidus 

C. zinzalus 

14 (12) Crossband broadly reaching hind margin of wing, completely filling cell cua1 (Fig. 63). Large 

brightly coloured black and yellow species (Fig. 64) 

Crossband never completely reaching hind margin of wing, cell cua1 at least one-third hyaline 

(Fig. 65). Dull black and yellow/orange species (Fig. 66). 3 spp. 

. 

Fig. 66. 

C. nigripes, C.frigidus 

C. zinzalus 

venus 

15


. 

Fig. 67. C. nigripes 

Fig. 68. 

C.frigidus 

C. zinzalus 

15 (14) Apical spot not widened beyond crossband and crossing no more than apical half of vein R4 

(Fig. 67). Hind tibia entirely black and vertex (top of head) pruinose. 

. 

Apical spot widened beyond crossband and crossing more than apical half of vein R4 (Fig. 

68). If hind tibia entirely black then vertex glossy black. 2 spp. 

nigripes 

16


. 

Fig. 69. 

C. frigidus 

Fig. 70. 

C. frigidus 

Fig. 71. 

C. zinzalus 

Fig. 72. 

C. zinzalus 

16 (15) Frontal callus dull and rough, separated from ocellar prominence by pruinose vertex (Fig. 

69); palpi yellowish brown (Fig. 69) and hind tibia at least partly reddish; abdominal tergites 

often with extensive dark yellow/orange areas laterally on tergites 1-4 (Fig. 70) 

Frontal callus glossy and smooth and connected or almost connected to glossy ocellar 

prominence (Fig. 71); palpi and hind tibia black (Fig. 71); lateral yellow on abdominal tergites 

restricted to tergites 1& 2 (Fig. 72) 

frigidus 

zinzalus

Return to 


Fig. 73. C. shermani 

Fig. 74. C. aberrans 

17 (7) Fenestrate wing pattern, i.e., crossband and apical spot broken by pale areas along veins, 

pattern unique (Fig. 73) 

shermani 

Dark markings of wing not broken by paler areas along veins (Fig. 74). 23 spp. 18 

.

Return to 


key 

. 

Fig. 75. C. fuliginosus 

Fig. 77 

Fig. 76. C. fuliginosus Fig. 78 

18 (17) General appearance dark smoky gray/brown (Fig.75); wing markings pale (Fig. 76). 

Restricted to Atlantic coastal salt marshes 

General appearance black and yellow or warm brown, not smoky (Fig. 77); wing markings 

darker to saturate (Fig. 78). Not restricted to salt marshes. 22 spp. 

fuliginosus 

19

Return 

to start 


. Fig. 79. C. brunneus 

. 

Fig. 81 

Fig. 80 

19 (18) Apical spot continuing around apex of wing to join crossband, thus enclosing a linear 

hyaline area (Fig. 79); tergites pale brown (Fig. 79). Range in Canada restricted to the 

Great Lakes marshes in extreme southern Ontario. 

Apical spot sometimes extending around wing apex but never joining crossband at hind 

margin (Fig. 81); pale areas of tergites usually orange/yellow, or white (Fig.80) but tergites 

brownish in C. flavidus and C. celatus. 21 spp. 

brunneus 

20


. 

Fig. 82 

Fig. 83. C. furcatus br 

20 (19) Wing cell br more than three-quarters infuscated. 7 spp. (Fig. 82) 21 

Wing cell br always at least one-third hyaline (Fig. 83). 15 spp. 27


Fig. 84. C. moechus 

Fig. 85 

21 (20) Hyaline triangle very small, restricted to apices of cells m1 and m2 (Fig. 84) moechus 

Hyaline triangle larger, always extending beyond cell m1. 6 spp. (Fig. 85) 22

Return 

to start 


Fig. 86 

C. Indus 

C. striatus 

. . 

Fig. 87 

C. pikei 

C. macquarti 

C. vittatus 

C. aberrans 

22 (21) Apical spot filling half or less of cell r4. 2 spp. (Fig. 86) 23 

Apical spot filling more than one-half of cell r4, and usually extending into r5. 4 spp. (Fig. 87) 24

Return 

to start 


. . 

Fig. 88. C. indus Fig. 89. C. striatus 

23 (22) Black markings on tergites 3, 4, 5 much wider than the black inverted U-shaped figure on 

tergite 2 (Fig. 88) 

indus 

Black markings on tergites 3, 4, 5 approximately same width as those on tergite 2 (Fig. 89) striatus


. . 

Fig. 90. C. pikei 

Fig. 91. 

C. macquarti 

C. vittatus 

C. aberrans 

24 (22) Apex of hyaline triangle usually reaches vein R2+3 (Fig. 90) pikei 

Apex of hyaline triangle just gets beyond furcation of vein R4+5 . 3 spp. (Fig. 91) 25

Return 

to start 


. 

Fig. 92. C. macquarti 

Fig. 93. C. macquarti 

Fig. 94 

C. vitatus, C. aberrans 

Fig. 95 

C. vittatus 

C. aberrans 

25 (24) Abdomen with wide median yellow stripe between 2 dark submedian stripes (Fig. 92); 

apical spot filling wing cell r4 and filling outer edge of cell r5. (Fig. 93) 

Abdomen with a narrower median yellow stripe, 2 submedian stripes and a further 2 dark 

lateral stripes (Fig. 94); apical spot does not fill outer edge of wing cell r5. 2spp. (Fig. 95) 

macquarti 

26

Return 

to start 


Fig. 97. C. vittatus Fig. 98. C. aberrans 

26 (25) Wing cell cua1 mostly infuscated (Fig. 97a); cell bm about one-third infuscated (Fig. 97b) 

Scutellum yellow (Fig. 97c); frontal callus yellow with darker dorsal margin (Fig. 97d) 

Wing cell cua1 hyaline (Fig. 98a); cell bm hyaline (Fig. 98b). Scutellum dark (Fig. 98c); 

frontal callus dark (Fig. 98d) 

vittatus 

aberrans

Return to 


. 

Fig. 99. C. callidus 

Fig. 100. C. montanus 

27 (20) Apical spot of uniform width, usually covering no more than apical third of vein R4 (Fig. 99) 

(rarely covering apical half in some pudicus). 6 spp. 

Apical spot not of uniform width, widening to cover more than one-half of vein R4 (Fig. 100). 8 

spp. 

28 

33


Fig. 101 

C. luteopennis 

C. sackeni 

C. pudicus 

Fig. 103. Wing of sackeni 

Fig. 102 

C. delicatulus 

C. aestuans 

C. callidus 

28 (27) Apex of hyaline triangle just reaching or almost reaching vein R2+3. 3 spp. (Fig. 101) 29 

Apex of hyaline triangle crossing vein R2+3. 3 spp. (Fig.102) 31 

.


Fig. 103 

C. luteopennis 

Fig. 104. C. luteopennis 

Fig. 106. 

C. sackeni 

C. pudicus 

Fig. 105 

C. sackeni 

C. pudicus 

29 (28) Abdominal tergites 2, 3, and 4 with isolated sublateral black spots (Fig. 103) Wing 

pattern not saturate and discal cell about one-half hyaline (Fig. 104). Southern Ontario, 

rare. 

Abdominal tergites with expanded black markings (thus reducing the yellow lateral area) 

and no sublateral black spots (Fig. 105). Wing pattern saturate and discal cell almost 

entirely saturate (Fig. 106). 2 spp. 

luteopennis 

30


Fig. 107. C. sackeni 

30 (29) Black inverted V on tergite 2 continuous with black markings on tergites 1 & 3 (Fig. 107) sackeni 

Black inverted V on tergite 2 isolated from black markings on tergites 1 & 3 (Fig. 108) pudicus 

. 

Fig. 108. C. pudicus

Return 

to start 


Fig. 109. C. delicatulus 

discal 

cell 

Fig. 111 

C. aestuans, 

C. callidus 

facial callus 

gena 

Fig. 110. C. delicatulus Fig. 112. C. aestuans, C. callidus 

31 (28) Lower half of crossband narrow so that discal cell is about one-half or more hyaline 

(Fig. 109); facial callus & gena black (Fig. 110) 

Crossband fills all of discal cell (Fig. 111); facial callus & gena yellow/orange. 2 spp. (Fig. 

112) 

delicatulus 

32


Fig. 113. C. aestuans . 

Fig. 114. C. callidus 

Fig. 115. C. aestuans Fig. 116. C. callidus 

32 (31) Pale markings on tergites grayish or dull yellow, tergite 2 with one black triangle on either 

side of median inverted V (Fig. 113). Wing with apical spot paler than crossband (Fig. 115). 

Widespread , Prince Edward Island to British Columbia 

Pale markings on tergites yellow, no black lateral triangles on tergite 2 (fig. 114). Apical 

spot as dense as crossband (Fig. 116). Southern Ontario and adjacent Quebec 

aestuans 

callidus

Return to 


key 

Fig. 117. C. univittatus Fig. 118 

33 (27) Tergites mostly black or dark brown but with a median yellow stripe and incipient 

sublateral yellow stripes (Fig. 117) 

univittatus 

Laterally, tergites 1 & 2 mostly yellow or pale brown. 7spp. (Fig. 118). 34

Return to 


key 

Fig. 121 Fig. 122 

34 (33) Apex of hyaline triangle crossing vein R2+3 and often extending to costa so that apical spot 

appears separated from crossband. 4 spp. (Fig. 121) 

Apex of hyaline triangle not crossing vein R2+3. 3 spp. (Fig. 122) 38 

35


. 

Fig. 123 Fig. 124 

r4 

35 (34) Apical spot occupying almost all of wing cell r4, crossband broadly reaching hind margin of 

wing (Fig. 123). 2spp. Rare, extreme southern Ontario and southwestern Quebec. 

Apical spot occupying only about one half of cell r4, crossband just reaching, or not reaching, 

hind margin of wing (Fig. 124). 2spp. More widespread. 

36 

37


. 

Fig. 125. C. geminatus Fig. 126. C. impunctus 

36 (35) Second abdominal tergite with pair of oblique lines or black inverted V (Fig. 125) geminatus 

1 st and 2 nd abdominal tergites entirely yellow (Fig. 126) impunctus

Return 

to start 


. 

Fig. 127. C. lateralis 

m3 

Fig. 128 C. lateralis 

Fig. 129. C. furcatus 

Fig. 130 C. furcatus 

37 (35) Wing cell m3 over three-quarters infuscated, cua1 hyaline, cell br about two-thirds hyaline 

(Fig. 127). Tergite 2 with median yellow stripe between submedian black stripes (Fig. 128) 

Cell m3 about one-half infuscated, cua1 infuscated at base, cell br about one-third hyaline 

(Fig. 129 ). Tergite 2 with median yellow triangle ( Fig. 130) 

lateralis 

furcatus


Fig. 131. C. montanus Fig. 132 

38 (34) Tergites dark yellow/orange with 4 longitudinal rows of black spots, median inverted V on 

tergite 2 (Fig. 131). Widespread, New Brunswick to Manitoba. 

Tergites pale yellow with pale brownish markings or few dark bars not in rows (Fig. 132). 

2 spp., known only from Lake Erie shore in Canada. 

montanus 

39


Fig. 133. C. flavidus Fig. 134. C. celatus 

39 (38) Thorax with yellowish to pale brownish pruinose area separating darker brown subshining 

stripes (Fig. 133). Outer margin of crossband irregular, somewhat sinuous. 

Pruinose area iridescent greenish or bluish gray and subshining stripes dark brown to black 

(Fig. 134). Outer margin of crossband straight or concave. 

flavidus 

celatus

Chrysops calvus Pechuman & Teskey 

Length 7-10 mm. An all black species with a hyaline wing apex (cell r1 along costa rarely 

smoky-tinged). Readily separated from other all black species, except C. niger Macquart, 

by the combination of a yellow clypeus without a pruinose stripe and the completely 

hyaline wing cell bm. It can be separated from Chrysops niger by the intensity of the 

thoracic sublateral stripes, the shiny vertex and eye pattern (see key). 

Abdomen plate. Face plate. Distribution map. 

Back to Checklist. Back to Chrysops key. 

.

Chrysops niger Macquart 

Length 7-10 mm. An all black species with a hyaline wing apex and a yellow clypeus 

without a pruinose stripe. Very similar to C. calvus but differs in intensity of sublateral 

thoracic stripes, pruinose vertex and eye pattern (see key). 


Back to Checklist. Back to Chrysops key.

Chrysops cincticornis Walker 

Length 8-11 mm. An all black species with a hyaline wing apex and a black face with a 

yellow pruinose stripe. Instantly recognizable by the bright yellowish orange hairs laterally 

on the thorax. Teskey (1990) noted that some individuals have only light yellow to cream- 

coloured hairs making their separation from C. mitis difficult. However, the differences in 

extent of the crossband should distinguish the two species. 


Back to Checklist. Back to Chrysops key

Chrysops mitis Osten Sacken 


yellow pruinose stripe, and only likely to be confused with Chrysops ater when that species 

lacks or almost lacks the hyaline spot at the base of wing cell cua 1 . Teskey (1990) noted 

that some individuals of Chrysops cincticornis Walker lack the characteristic yellowish 

orange hairs on the sides of the thorax and thus resemble C. mitis. However, the 

differences in extent of the crossband distinguish the two species. 



Chrysops ater Macquart 

Length 7-10mm. An all black species with a hyaline wing apex and a black face with a 

yellow pruinose stripe. Only likely to be confused with Chrysops carbonarius and Chrysops 

mitis Osten Sacken. Reliably separated from C. carbonarius by wing pattern but when the 

the base of wing cell cua1 is almost fully infuscated individuals may be indistinguishable 

from C. mitis. 

Abdomen plate. . Face plate. Distribution map. 


Chrysops carbonarius Walker 


yellow pruinose stripe. Only likely to be confused with Chrysops ater Macquart, but reliably 

distinguished from that species by wing pattern. Teskey (1990) stated that he had seen 

evidence of hybridization of the two species. 


. 


Chrysops sordidus Osten Sacken 

Length 8-10 mm. Individuals are best identified by the almost black abdomen with gray 

borders and gray mid line triangles. Yellow patches, when present, are restricted to tergites 

1 & 2. Apical costal margin of wing either hyaline or with a smoky tinge. 



Chrysops excitans Walker 

Length 9-12 mm. Usually readily recognizable by the combination of wing pattern (cells br 

and bm about two-thirds infuscated, saturate crossband not reaching posterior wing 

margin, lack of apical spot) and tergite 2 laterally orange-yellow with an inverted black V 

leaving a large yellow triangle in the midline. However, some individuals superficially 

resemble Chrysops dawsoni in having tergite 2 extensively blackened with the lateral 

orange yellow patches and the midline triangle reduced. 

Variations. Abdomen . plate. Face plate. Distribution map. 


Chrysops cuclux Whitney 

Length 7-10mm. Abdomen predominantly black with tergites 1 & 2 narrowly yellow 

laterally, wing pattern pale. 

. 



Chrysops dawsoni Philip 

Length 7-10mm. Distinguished from C. excitans by the absence of a pale triangle in the 

middle of tergite 2 and the reduced areas of yellow laterally on tergites 1 & 2; and from 

C. cuclux by the saturate crossband. 

Variations. Abdomen plate. . 

Face plate. Distribution map. 


Chrysops discalis Williston 

Length 8-11mm. A pale brown western species only likely to be confused with C. fulvaster 

but readily distinguished by characters given in the key. 



Chrysops fulvaster Osten Sacken 

Length 6-8mm. A brown western species only likely to be confused with C. discalis but 

readily distinguished by characters given in the key and with the scape more swollen than 

the other antennal segements. 



Chrysops venus Philip 

Length 8-11mm. A brightly coloured black and yellow species that was confused with 

C. frigidus before its description in 1950, but larger, brighter, and with a prominently 

banded abdomen and mostly black legs. 

. 



Chrysops nigripes Zetterstedt 

Length 8-10mm. A northern holarctic species most similar to C. frigidus and C. zinzalus. 

. 



Chrysops frigidus Osten Sacken 

Length 6-9mm. Abdomen colour ranges from almost completely orange (var. xanthas 

Philip) to almost completely black. Most similar to C. venus, C. nigripes, and C. zinzalus 

but can be identified using characters in key. 




Chrysops zinzalus Philip 

Length 7-9mm. Similar to C. nigripes but reliably separated from that species by wing 

pattern and the glossy frontal callus connected to the ocellar prominence. 




Chrysops shermani Hine 

Length 7-10mm. The combination of fenestrate . wing pattern and striped abdomen are diagnostic. 



Chrysops fuliginosus Wiedemann 

Length 6-8mm. Unlikely to be confused with any other species due to its dull colouration 

and its Atlantic coastal salt marsh habitat. 

. 



Chrysops brunneus Hine 

Length 8-11mm. Distinctive owing to yellowish brown colouration and swollen basal 

antennal segments. The only similar Canadian species are the western C. fulvaster, C. 

flavidus and C. celatus which are all separable by wing pattern. 

. 



S. Marshall 

Chrysops moechus Osten Sacken 

Length 7-8mm. Wings heavily infuscated with hyaline triangle truly triangular. C. macquarti 

is similar but with hyaline triangle more extensive. 

. 

Variations. Abdomen plate. Face plate. Distribution map. 


Chrysops indus Osten Sacken 

Length 7-10mm. The orange face, apical spot filling half of cell r4, dark scutellum and 

unstriped abdomen should make this species recognizable. 

Variations. Abdomen . plate. Face plate. Distribution map. 


Chrysops striatus Osten Sacken 

Length 7-10mm. A striped-abdomen species similar to C. aberrans but with a smaller 

apical spot, the central black abdominal stripes joined on the 2 

. 

nd tergite, the sublateral 

abdominal stripes paler than the submedian stripes, and the frontal callus usually black. 



Chrysops pikei Whitney 

Length 6-8mm. The 2 bold dark submedian abdominal stripes, yellow face lacking a 

pruinose stripe, fully infuscated wing cell br, extensive hyaline triangle, and restricted 

distribution should readily differentiate this species. 

. 



Chrysops macquarti Philip 

Length 6-8mm. 2 dark submedian abdominal stripes but tergite 1 mostly yellow, scutellum 

with at least apex yellow, and wing heavily infuscated. 



S.A. 

Marshall 

Chrysops vittatus Wiedemann 

Length 7-10mm. A common and aggressive species from southern Ontario to the Maritmes. 

Variations. Abdomen 

. 

plate. Face plate. Distribution map. 


Chrysops aberrans Philip 

Length 7-9mm. Superficially similar to C. striatus but differing in having a slightly larger 

apical spot, sublateral stripes as dark as submedian stripes, submedian stripes 

usually not connected on tergite 2, and the frontal callus usually yellow. 



Chrysops luteopennis Philip 

Length 8mm. A very rare species known from only 5 localities, including 3 Canadian 

localities (both in Ontario). Teskey (1990) described wing cell br as fully pigmented and 

keyed this species on this basis. However, Teskey’s (1990) wing photo shows cell br with 

only about the basal one-third infuscated as does the wing image in Pechuman et al. 

(1983). A combination of the pale wing pattern, discal cell only half infuscated and body 

pattern does allow for recognition of this species. 

Abdomen plate. Distribution map. 

Back to Checklist. . 

Back to Chrysops key

Chrysops sackeni Hine 

Length 8-11mm. Similar to C. callidus but usually separable by the extent of the hyaline 

triangle (Key couplet 28). The frontal callus is partly yellow or brown and about two-thirds 

as high as wide. 

. 



Chrysops pudicus Osten Sacken 

Length 6-8mm. Keys to same couplet as C. sackeni but distinctly different in abdominal 

pattern. The main stronghold of this species is the SE USA but it extends discontinuously 

north along the Atlantic coast to one locality in southwest Nova Scotia. This species is 

otherwise known in Canada from two Ontario localities (one newly reported here). 

Chrysops pudicus is part of the C. flavidus group, revised by Baier (1999). 



Chrysops delicatulus Osten Sacken 

Length 7-9mm. The narrow apical spot and mostly hyaline discal cell makes this species 

distinctive. A rarely collected species ranging from southwestern Ontario to southwestern 

Nova Scotia. 



Chrysops aestuans Van der Wulp 

Length 8-10mm. A black and gray/pale yellow species with a very narrow apical spot. 

There are differences in leg and ventral abdominal color between the disjunct eastern and 

western populations, with the eastern populations mostly black and the western ones 

extensively yellow. East of the Great Lakes C. aestuans is associated with large bodies of 

water; in the west with several types of wet habitats (Teskey 1990). 

. 



Chrysops callidus Osten Sacken 

Length 7-9mm. A black and yellow species with wing and abdomen patterns similar to C. 

sackeni but usually separable by the extent of the hyaline triangle (Key couplet 28). Frontal 

callus usually black and about half as high as wide. 

. 

Abdomen plate. Face plate. Distribution map 


Chrysops univittatus Macquart 

Length 5-8mm. Small black or dark brown species with a median yellowish stripe. Rarely 

there may be a distinct yellow stripe either side of the median stripe, or the median stripe 

may be greatly reduced; wing pattern is distinctive. 

Variations. Abdomen 

. 

plate. Face plate. Distribution map. 


Chrysops geminatus Wiedemann 

Length 5-8mm. A small black and yellow species with abdominal markings not in the form 

of stripes. Apical spot widened apically and not connected to crossband. Black inverted V 

on 2 nd tergite sometimes reduced to a vague shadow. In Canada in extreme SW Ontario 

and southern Quebec. 



Chrysops impunctus Krober 

Length: 5-8mm. Treated in Teskey (1990) as a var. of C. geminatus but Burger (1995) 

listed it as a distinct species. Apical spot and crossband slightly more extensive than C. 

geminatus; 1 st and 2 nd tergites yellow. In Canada known only from the type locality of Port 

Stanley, Ontario. 

Abdomen plate. Distribution map. Back to Checklist Back to Chrysops key

Chrysops lateralis Wiedemann 

Length 8-10mm. A black and yellow species with a median yellow stripe on the tergites. 

Often abundant and pestiferous. 



Chrysops furcatus Walker 

Length 7-10mm. Best identified by the combination of wing, face and pattern on the first 

two tergites. Central black area of tergite 1 joined to parallel-sided median geminate mark 

on tergite enclosing a median pale triangle. Rest of abdomen variable: tergite 2 may have 

black sublateral marks of varying size and density but often just yellow; tergites 3-5 can 

vary in the amounts of black and yellow. 



Chrysops montanus Osten Sacken 

Length 8-10mm. Similar to some forms of C. furcatus but distinguished by the yellow facial 

callus (black in C. furcatus). 



Chrysops flavidus Wiedemann 

Length 8-10mm. This species and C. celatus are almost identical and each reaches its northern limit in 

extreme southwestern Ontario. See key couplet 39 for identifying characters. Body colouring similar to C. 

brunneus (see key couplet 19). Part of the C. flavidus group, revised by Baier (1999). 



Chrysops celatus Pechuman 

Length 7-10mm. This species and C. flavidus are almost identical and each reaches its northern limit in 

extreme southwestern Ontario. See key couplet 39 for identifying characters. Body colouring similar to C. 

brunneus (see key couplet 19). Part of the C. flavidus group, revised by Baier (1999). 



1 2 3 

4 5 6 

Black Chrysops spp. 1: calvus; 2: niger; 3: carbonarius; 4: ater; 5: mitis; 6: cincticornis. 

Click on species name to go back to species page List of plates

1 2 3 

4 5 6 

Dark Chrysops spp. 1: sordidus; 2: excitans; 3: cuclux; 4: dawsoni; 5: nigripes; 6: zinzalus. 


1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 

Black & yellow, non-striped abdomen Chrysops spp. !: venus; 2: frigidus; 3: delicatulus; 

4: callidus; 5: pudicus; 6: geminatus; 7: sackeni; 8: indus. 


1 

1 2 3 

4 5 

6 

Black & yellow Chrysops spp. 1: lateralis; 2: pikei; 3: furcatus; 4: luteopennis; 

5: impunctus; 6: macquarti. 


1 2 3 4 

5 6 7 8 

Dark and pale Chrysops spp. 1: univittatus; 2: fuliginosus; 3: aestuans; 4: discalis; 

5: brunneus; 6: flavidus; 7: celatus; 8: fulvaster. 

Click on species name to go back to species plate List of plates

1 2 3 

4 5 6 

4-striped abdomen Chrysops spp. 1: shermani; 2: montanus; 3: aberrans; 

4: striatus; 5: vittatus; 6: moechus. 


1 2 3 

4 5 6 

Chrysops spp., faces. 1:calvus; 2: niger; 3: cincticornis; 4: carbonarius 5: ater; 6: mitis. 

Click on species name to go back to species page. List of plates.

1 2 3 

5 6 7 8 

Chrysops spp. faces. 1: sordidus; 2: excitans; 3: cuclux; 4: nigripes ; 5: dawsoni; 

6: frigidus; 7: zinzalus; 8: venus. 

Click on species name to go back to species page List of plates 

4

1 2 3 

4 5 6 

Chrysops spp. faces. 1: delicatulus; 2: pudius; 3: sackeni; 4: geminatus; 5: callidus; 

6: indus. 


1 2 

4 5 6 

Chrysops spp. faces. 1: lateralis; 2: moechus; 3. montanus; 4: pikei; 5: furcatus; 

6: macquarti. 


3

1 2 3 4 

5 

6 7 8 

Chrysops spp. faces. 1: univittatus; 2: fuliginosus; 3: aestuans; 4: discalis;5: brunneus; 

6: flavidus; 7: clelatus; 8: fulvaster. 


1 

3 5 

Chrysops spp. faces. 1: striatus; 2: aberrans (2 flies); 3: shermani; 4: vittatus. 


2 

4

Map 1. Stonemyia rasa (red – from Teskey (1990). blue – DEBU records. 

Next map Species page

Map 2. Stonemyia tranquilla (red – from Teskey (1990), black - AWT records, 

blue – DEBU records), 

Previous map Next map Species page

Map 3. Goniops chrysocoma (red – from Teskey (1990)). 


Map 4. Merycomyia whitneyi (red – from Teskey (1990), black – Hurlburt et al. record). 


Map 5. Chrysops calvus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 

blue – DEBU records). 


Map 6. Chrysops niger (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 7. Chrysops cincticornis (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 8. Chrysops mitis (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 

blue - DEBU records). 


Map 9. Chrysops ater (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 10. Chrysops carbonarius (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 11. Chrysops sordidus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 12. Chrysops excitans (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 13. Chrysops cuclux (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 14. Chrysops dawsoni (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 15. Chrysops discalis (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT record). 


Map 16. Chrysops fulvaster (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT record). 


Map 17. Chrysops venus (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU records). 


Map 18. Chrysops nigripes (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT record, 

yellow in black – Hurlburt et al record, blue – DEBU records). 


Map 19. Chrysops frigidus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 20. Chrysops zinzalus (red dots -from Teskey (1990), black dots – AWT records, 

yellow in black dot - Hurlburt et al record, blue dots – DEBU records. Shaded green areas 

represent possible distribution. Note that there are no records for Sakatchewan, Manitoba 

or extreme northwestern Ontario.) 


Map 21. Chrysops shermani (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records). 


Map 22. Chrysops fuliginosus, (red – from Teskey (1990); black – AWT records). 


Map 23. Chrysops brunneus (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU records). 


Map 24. Chrysops moechus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT record, 

blue – DEBU record). 


Map 25. Chrysops indus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT record, 



Map 26. Chrysops striatus (red – from Teskey (1990); blue – DEBU records). 


Map 27. Chrysops pikei (red – from Teskey (1990), blue - DEBU record). 


Map 28. Chrysops macquarti (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU records). 


Map 29. Chrysops vittatus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 

blue - DEBU records). 


Map 30. Chrysops aberrans (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 

blue - DEBU records).. 


Map 31. Chrysops luteopennis (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU record). 


Map 32. Chrysops sackeni (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU records). 


Map 33. Chrysops pudicus (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU record) . 


Map 34. Chrysops delicatulus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 

yellow in black – Hurlburt et al record, blue – DEBU record). 


Map 35. Chrysops aestuans (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 36. Chrysops callidus (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU records). 


Map 37. Chrysops univittatus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 38. Chrysops geminatus (red – from Teskey (1990), blue – DEBU records). 


Map 39. Chrysops impunctus (red – from Teskey (1990)). 


Map 40. Chrysops lateralis (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 41. Chrysops furcatus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, 



Map 42. Chrysops montanus (red – from Teskey (1990), black – AWT records, yellow in 

black – Hurlburt et al record, blue – DEBU records). 


Map 43. Chrysops celatus & Chrysops flavidus (red – from Teskey (1990), 


Previous map C. flavidus species page C. celatus species page

LIST OF PLATES 

COMPARISON OF CHRYSOPS ABDOMENS 

Black spp. 1: calvus; 2: niger; 3: carbonarius; 4: ater; 5: mitis; 6: cincticornis 

Dark spp. 1: sordidus; 2: excitans; 3: cuclux; 4: dawsoni; 5: nigripes; 6: zinzalus 

Black & yellow, non-striped abdomen spp. !: venus; 2: frigidus; 3: delicatulus; 

4: callidus; 5: pudicus; 6: geminatus; 7: sackeni; 8: indus. 

Black & yellow spp. 1: lateralis; 2: pikei; 3: furcatus; 4: luteopennis; 5: impunctus; 

6: macquarti. 

Dark and pale spp. 1: univittatus; 2: fuliginosus; 3: aestuans; 4: discalis; 5: brunneus; 

6: flavidus; 7: celatus; 8: fulvaster. 

4-striped abdomen spp. 1: shermani; 2: montanus; 3: aberrans; 4: striatus; 5: vittatus; 

6: moechus. 

Checklist

LIST OF PLATES 

COMPARISON OF CHRYSOPS FACES 

1. 1:calvus; 2: niger; 3: cincticornis; 4: carbonarius 5: ater; 6: mitis. 

2. 1: sordidus; 2: excitans; 3: cuclux; 4: nigripes ; 5: dawsoni; 6: frigidus; 7: zinzalus; 

8: venus. 

3. 1: delicatulus; 2: pudius; 3: sackeni; 4: geminatus; 5: callidus; 6: indus 

4. 1: lateralis; 2: moechus; 3. montanus; 4: pikei; 5: furcatus; 6: macquarti 

5. 1: univittatus; 2: fuliginosus; 3: aestuans; 4: discalis;5: brunneus; 6: flavidus; 7: clelatus; 

8: fulvaster 

6. 1: striatus; 2: aberrans (2 flies); 3: shermani; 4: vittatus 

Note: no face views of C. impunctus and C. luteopennis 

Checklist

Chrysops aberrans. Variations in frontal callus, scutellum, lateral and submedian 

black abdominal stripes. 

Species page

Chrysops aestuans. Variations in pattern on tergites 1, 2, and 3; apical spot on wing and 

leg colour. The western population was described by Philip (1941) as C. aestuans subsp. 

abaestuans. 

Species page

Chrysops celatus. Variations in intensity of dark markings on tergites 

Species page

Chrysops dawsoni. Variations in extent of yellow lateral spots. The apparent pale 

triangle midline of tergite 2 on the left image is a reflection from the flash. 

Species page

Chrysops excitans. Variations in extent of yellow lateral spots. 

Species page

Chrysops flavidus. Variations in intensity of dark markings 

Species page

Chrysops frigidus. Variations in extent of dark makings 

Species page

Chrysops furcatus. Variations in extent of black on tergites 

Species page

Chrysops indus. Variations in extent of black on tergites 3, 4, and 5. 

Species page

Chrysops lateralis. Variations in extent of black on tergites 3 and 4. 

Species page

Chrysops moechus. Variations in extent of black on tergites 1-4. 

Species page

Chrysops pudicus. Variations in extent of hyaline triangle (at apex), 

and width and extent of apical spot. 

Species page

Chrysops striatus. Scutellum varies from all black to mostly reddish; submedian black 

stripes either joined/not joined on tergite 2; sublateral dark stripes weak or absent on 

tergite 2. 

Species page

Chrysops univittatus. Scutellum varies from all black to all yellow; median 

yellow stripe either narrow or wide; variable amount of yellow laterally on tergites 1 and 2. 

Species page

Chrysops vittatus. Abdominal tergites typically with 4 dark longitudinal stripes, very 

rarely not striped as in specimen on right that has the unique vittatus wing pattern. 

Species page

Chrysops zinzalus. Variation in extent of yellow on tergites 1 and 2. 

Species page

Acknowledgements 

We are grateful to Chris (Chun) Ho (University of Guelph) for his assistance in testing the key and helping with the 

distribution maps. Dave Cheung (University of Guelph) provided invaluable assistance with key design and final 

formatting. For sending us Hurlburt et al. (2008) we thank Syd Cannings. We thank the following photographers for 

generously allowing the use of their photographs in this work: 

1] For the image of Merycomyia whitneyi we thank Sturgis McKeever (image citation: Sturgis McKeever, Georgia 

Southern University, Bugwood.org), image used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United 

States License: http://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1487008 

2] For the images of Goniops chrysocoma we thank Troy Bartlett. Images used under permission granted on this 

page: http://bugguide.net/user/view/7 

3] For the images of Chrysops brunneus, Chrysops callidus, we thank Gayle and Jeanell Strickland.

References 

Baier, T. M. 1999. A revision of the flavidus group of the genus Chrysops Meigen (Diptera : Tabanidae). Proceedings 

of the Entomological Society of Washington 101: 175-196. 

Burger, J.F. 1995. Catalog of Tabanidae (Diptera) of North America north of Mexico. Contributions on Entomology, 

International. Vol. 1, No. 1. Associated Publishers, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 100pp. 

Butt, C., B. Hicks, and C. Campbell. 2008. The diversity and abundance of Tabanidae in black spruce forests and 

sphagnum bogs in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada. J. Acad. Entomol. Soc 4: 7-13. 

Graham, J.L. 1992. Spatial distribution of female Tabanidae and Simuliidae (Diptera) among different terrestrial 

habitats in central Newfoundland. M.Sc. thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL. 

Hurlburt, D., T. Herman, S. Hubley, K. Marshall, and P. Taylor. (2008). Invertebrates as sentinels of peatland heath and 

landscape integrity in southweast Nova Scotia. Draft report. 

McElligott, P.E.K., and Lewis, D.J. 1996. Distribution and abundance of immature Tabanidae (Diptera) in a subarctic 

Labrador peatland. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1364-1369. 

Pechuman, L.L. 1981. The Horse Flies and Deer Flies of New York (Diptera, Tabanidae), 2nd edition. Search Agric. 18. 

68pp. 

Pechuman, L.L., H.J. Teskey, and D.M. Davies. 1961. The Tabanidae (Diptera) of Ontario. Proc. Ent. Soc. Ont 91 

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Tabanidae of Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains 1: a ...

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