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Distribution of halophilous species of horse flies in Croatia (Diptera: Tabanidae)

In the past twenty years, fauna and ecology of horse flies (Tabanidae) was intensively studied in Croatia, especially in the Ramsar sites as Wetlands of International Importance. 78 species classified in 10 genera, with different habitats requirements for larval stage were recorded. The true aquatic larvae are represented by species of genera Chrysops and some Hybomitra species. Some species from this ecological group are typical inhabitants in saline biotopes. The adult horse flies are occurring near water and close to the breeding sites. In Croatian fauna three halophilous species were recorded: Chrysops italicus Meigen, 1804, Hybomitra acuminata (Loew, 1858) and Hybomitra expollicata (Pandellé, 1883). These species were recorded in 7, 3 and 17 UTM grids in Croatia, respectively. Specimens were primarily collected in habitats with brackish water along the Adriatic coast, such as Vransko Lake, mouth of the Cetina River and delta of the Neretva River. Only Hybomitra acuminata was recorded in the continental part of Croatia. It was sporadically collected on localities along the Danube floodplain and on four localities near Drava River. This rare species was represented with only 0.96% in total catch of the Hybomitra genus in these areas. Distribution of Hybomitra acuminata in the continental part is quite interesting because it could indicate the otherwise rare salt habitats along the Drava and Danube Rivers.

Tabanidae; halophilous species; distribution; Croatia

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