The Tabanini of Thailand above the Istmus of Kra (Diptera: Tabanidae)

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The Oriental tabanid fauna (horse-flies and deer flies) is unusually rich yet is almost certainly the least known of any zoogeographic region. The region remains a taxonomic frontier even in those countries that have been the subject of longer papers.

In this study, the author has combined a knowledge of Thailand, gained originally from service as a U.S. Peace Corps malaria entomologist, with an earlier interest in Tabanidae. The great majority of specimens were collected by him or by collectors under his supervision. Historical material was studied in museums in London, Paris, and Washington, with loans from elsewhere.

The 31 species described as new and the 24 nominal taxa newly synonymized are easily found in the species account headings and synonymy. Lectotypes for the following species of Tabanus are designated: bicallosus Ric., indianus Ric., kakhyenensis S.-Wh., rubicundulus Aust., rubidus Wied., soubiroui Surc., speciosus Ric., subcallosus Ric. The following species of Tabanus are resurrected from earlier synonymy: assamensis (Bigot), crassus Walk., dorsilinea Wied., fulvimedius Walk., infamis Szil., internus Walk., megalops Walk., monilifer (Bigot), nonoptatus Ric., salvazai Surc., vagus Walk. The following new generic combinations are proposed: Tabanus gilvellus Philip to Atylotus, Tabanus humillimus Walker to Atylotus, Tabanus pusillus Macq. 1838 to Atylotus, Tabanus subcallosus Ric. returned to the original combination.

Some of the more diverse aspects of the field investigations in Thailand are to be noted in a separate future paper.

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