Interactions
In all Tabanidae, only
the females bite; inseminated females suck blood from mostly warm
blooded animals and invertebrates by flying around and attacking the
dorsal portions of its victims
(Gordh and
Headrick 2001).
Tabanus can be vectors for multiple diseases that infect
mammals and invertebrates. Such diseases are listed below
(Gordh and
Headrick 2001):
·
Anthrax
·
Anaplasmosis
·
Filarial worms
·
Bacterial Tularaemia (humans)
·
Dirofilaria roemiri
(marcropod marsupials)
·
Elaeophora schneideri
(sheep)
·
sporozoans (turtles)
·
trypanosomes (livestock)