Tabanus autumnalis?

[JRsbugs]

HI,

I have had two different Tabanidae this year, first time I have ever seen any!

The first one was Chrysops relictus which sat on my arm but I was unable to get a pic! Fortunately I saw it at my neighbour's again on 2nd July, this time in a garden shelter/marquee sort of thing.

This one I think had been in the same marquee the following day but I didn't see it, my neighbour just said it was big!

Going to bed very late or early on the 13th July this appeared on the wall at the top of the stairs, it had been around the light. It looks like Tabanus autumnalis to me, size and wing veination matches.

The NBN gateway doesn't have it anywhere near here but that's not unusual. Could it be anything else? The greyish striping on the thorax I believe is an ID feature.

I had no desire to get any more pics than necessary, it might have escaped! OK it's a male but still the size was scary!

Janet

[lync]

If not autumnalis then bromius. I would tend to favour the latter.

[JRsbugs]

Thanks lync, I'm wondering what separates the two? I think I read that T. bromius was smaller, this was around 20mm long, forgot to put that here but it's under the pics.