author(s)
RB Metri, GC Puttalakshmamma, H Dhanalakshmi, KJ David, T Venkatesan, KJ Anand, NL Jaya, BM Veeregowda and ML Satyanarayana

abstract
The aim of the present study was to explore the seasonal activity of tabanids in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. The study was carried out during all the seasons of the flight period March, 2019 to February 2020. A total of 912 specimens of tabanids were collected and identified belong to 5 different genera grouped into 20 species. The horse flies began flying during March-2019 and its flight period lasted until February-2020 with difference in number and species composition. The peak of seasonal abundance was observed during the last week of June. The most abundant species in the horse fly assemblages in the Western Ghats of Karnataka was Tabanus diversifrons Ricardo comprising of 18.64%, followed by Tabanus indianus Ricardo (9. 21%), Atylotus virgo Wiedemann (8.33%), Tabanus biannularis Philip (8.11%), Tabanus dorsilinea Wiedemann (7.13%), Tabanus rubidus Wiedemann (7.02%), Tabanus jucundus Walker (5.81%), Haematopota montana Ricardo (5.37%), Tabanus gertrudae Philip and Tabanus triceps Thunberg 5.04% each, Chrysops dispar Fabricius 3.84%, Haematopota javana Wiedemann 3.51%, Haematopota Longipennis Stone and Philip (2.96%), Haematopota brevis Ricardo (2.52%), Tabanus sexcinctus Ricardo and Philoliche taprobanes Walker 2.08% each, Tabanus tenebrosus Walker (1.43%), Tabanus auristriatus Ricardo (1.21%), and least abundance was observed in Haematopota albimedia Stone and Philip and Chrysops pellucidus Fabricius with 0.33% each. The largest number of specimens of Tabanus diversifrons Ricardo was collected during the peak of seasonal abundance of horse flies in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. Among the 20 species recorded in the present study, 7 species were proven vector for Surra, Anthrax, Blackleg and Haemorrhagic septicaemia in domestic and wild animals.