Atypical case of sex ratio disruption in Tabanidae collections with Malaise traps in Ecuadorian forests
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Date
2024
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Abstract
Male horseflies have low capture rates in Malaise traps, a widely documented pattern observed in numerous ecological studies. We present findings from a specific locality in Ecuador where a departure from this established pattern is observed. In this locality, males accounted for 59.14% of Tabanidae captures. The disruption in capture patterns observed using Malaise traps represents an uncommon feature in the scientific literature and during collections conducted over eight years in Ecuador. Despite the inherent limitations of Malaise traps in capturing male horseflies, it is possible that under specific conditions, such as the presence of optimal aggregation areas for horseflies, Malaise traps may enhance the capture efficiency of males. Additionally, we provide a detailed discussion on the disruption and disparity in capture sex proportions in Tabanidae, commonly reported in the scientific literature.
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Male, Female, Tabanidae, Aggregation, Horse flies