Tabanid Fauna (Diptera: Tabanidae) along The Lower Most Gangetic Plains of India: A Taxonomic Approach

True flies of family Tabanidae (Brachycera, Tabanomorpha) refers to group of sturdy, handsome, large headed flies devoid of large bristles and with colourful eyes. The present study reports 21 species under 6 genera, 4 tribes and 2 subfamilies from the Gangetic plains of West Bengal. These are also keyed, diagnosed and their distribution pattern discussed. Among these Chrysops designatus Ricardo (1911), Tabanus dorsiger Wiedemann (1821), Tabanus (Tabanus) optatus Walker (1856), Tabanus (Tabanus) tenens Walker (1850), and Haematopota tessellata Ricardo, (1906) are new records from the lowermost Gangetic plains and also from West Bengal. Continuous distribution pattern was observed with these flies of veterinary importance and haematophagous nature.