Tabanus gladiator
This record describes Tabanus gladiator (species). Recorded family: Tabanidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Head | frons very narrow, about 6 times as high as width at base, parallel sided or slightly widened above. Antennae: dark reddish brown, basal portion of 3rd segment with prominent dorsal angle and deep incision. Palps: very long,dark, straplike, apex truncate (see head image above). |
| Thorax | reddish brown, fine hairs giving it a lavender tone. Wings: costal cell orange brown (leading edge of wing); brown spot at bifurcation of R4 and R5 (top spot on wing); cross vein at end of cell margined with brown (bottom spot on wing); cell R5 narrowed at apex (cell between the 2 spots). |
| Legs | dark except apical half of fore tibia - pale. |
| Abdomen | orange brown, sometimes with an indication of median black spots. Note that these are marks for females (message from Tony-2 to Cotinis 10/16/25). See images here and on iNaturalist for males. Female Plate: |
| Male |
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Montana to Delaware, south to Texas and Florida
Seasonal Activity
May through October in Florida ; shorter season northwards.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tabanus gladiator Stone 1935
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Tabanus gladiator. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Tabanus gladiator (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by cotinis , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Tabanus gladiator
What is Tabanus gladiator?
Tabanus gladiator is a species in the family Tabanidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Tabanus gladiator?
♀♀ 22-25 mm (Stone, 1935)
How do you identify Tabanus gladiator?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Head | frons very narrow, about 6 times as high as width at base, parallel sided or slightly widened above. Antennae: dark reddish brown, basal portion of 3rd segment with prominent dorsal angle and deep incision. Palps: very long,dark, straplike, apex truncate (see head image above). |
| Thorax | reddish brown, fine hairs giving it a lavender tone. Wings: costal cell orange brown (leading edge of wing); brown spot at bifurcation of R4 and R5 (top spot on wing); cross vein at end of cell margined with brown (bottom spot on wing); cell R5 narrowed at apex (cell between the 2 spots). |
| Legs | dark except apical half of fore tibia - pale. |
| Abdomen | orange brown, sometimes with an indication of median black spots. Note that these are marks for females (message from Tony-2 to Cotinis 10/16/25). See images here and on iNaturalist for males. Female Plate: |
| Male |
Where is Tabanus gladiator found?
Range: Montana to Delaware, south to Texas and Florida
When is Tabanus gladiator active?
Tabanus gladiator: seasonal activity - May through October in Florida ; shorter season northwards..