Tabanus sufis

Tabanus sufis, also called estuary horsefly, is a species of horse fly in the family Tabanidae.

Distribution

Originally described as Tabanus sufis in 1867 by Johann Friedrich Jaennicke from specimens collected in Sudan . Afrotropical and Palearctic species. Widespread in Africa penetrating the Palearctic realm through the East Mediterranean from Egypt and Cyprus to Saudi Arabia and the Levant north and eastwards to Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and India.

Blood feeding hosts and veterinary relevance

Known hosts in Europe and the Levant are horses, donkeys, camels and men, in Africa—horses, cattle, and men. In Africa and the Arabian Peninsula this species is an important vector for Trypanosoma parasites causing the disease called surra. Surra is a major disease in camels, equines, cattle, and dogs, in which it can often be fatal.