COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS OF THE HORSEFLY FAUNA (DIPTERA, TABANIDAE) ON THE TERRITORY OF THE BAKADZHITSITE HILLS, SOUTH-EAST BULGARIA
D. GANEVA*, М. MIHAJLOVA, M. H. MARINOVA
Department of Biology and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Trakia University, Student Campus, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
*Corresponding author: d_ganeva2000@yahoo.com
Keywords: tabanids, species composition, dominance structure, zoogeographical notes, Bakadzhitsite hills
Abstract: The study was carried out at 4 localities on the territory of the Bakadzhitsite hills, Southeastern Bulgaria during the active period of the tabanids (08.2008; 06.-08. 2009-2011, 05.-08. 2013-2014). A total of 826 tabanid specimens were collected and processed. As a result 27 species and subspecies from 7 genera were recorded: Atylotus (1 species), Therioplectes (1 subspecies), Hybomitra (3 species), Tabanus (14 species and 1 subspecies), Haematopota (2 species), Dasyrhamphis (3 species) and Philipomyia (2 species). Twenty-five species and 2 subspecies were reported for the first time for the Bakadzhitsite hills. This is the first study on the tabanid fauna in the area under investigation. The dominant species in the tabanid assemblages on the Bakadzhitsite hills are: Philipomyia graeca (23.85%), Tabanus tergestinus (23.74%), T. bifarius (12.71%) and T. bromius (8.35%). The elements of the Mediterranean subregional fauna (74.08% of species) predominate in the horsefly fauna of the studied region.