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Abstract

Families Tabanidae and Therevidae. The Tabanidae are commonly called in Australia
"March Flies," and in other parts of the world "Horse
Flies" or "Gad Flies." The females are persistent bloodsuckers,
and will attack man and animals indiscriminately.
The males are much rarer and less frequently met with
than the females; they frequent flowers, whilst one Tasmanian
species occurs settled on the ground in hot, sandy
places, and the male of another species flies rapidly to
and fro in the bright sunshine. The females of several
species of Tabanus are common in the bush throughout
the summer; the name "March Flies" is, however, somewhat
inappropriate when applied to Tasmanian species,
as specimens are seldom to be met with after the first
few days of that month.
Family VI Therevidae.
Flies of moderate size, of elongated or conical shape,
the thorax and legs with distinct bristles ; distinguished
from the Asilidae by the eyes not being protuberant from
a sunk vertex, and by the head being set close against
the thorax, instead of being attached thereto by a slender
neck. Head about the same breadth as the thorax
antenna? composed of three joints, with an apical style ;
eyes either touching or separated in the male, always
widely separated in the female. Thorax distinctly longer
than broad, with presutural, suproalar, postalar, and
prescutellar bristles ; scutellum with one or two pairs of
marginal bristles. Abdomen either conical, or long and
tapering. Legs slender, rather long, with distinct bristles.
Wings with a venation resembling that of the Leptidce ;
the first posterior cell is always open, and the anal cell
always closed, but the fourth posterior cell may be either
closed or open.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	White, Arthur
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, Van Diemens Land, VDL, Hobart Town, natural sciences, proceedings, records, diptera-brachycera, Tasmania, flies, entomology, tabanidae, therevidae
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania.
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