Faunistic Notes on the Subfamily Tabaninae (Diptera: Tabanidae) in East Azarbaijan Province, Iran

A faunistic survey of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) was conducted between 2007 and 2017 in East Azarbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, with the primary aim of identifying the species present in this underexplored region. Specimens were collected using sweeping nets from various habitats including grasslands, forest edges, and semi-aquatic zones across nine geographically diverse localities. In total, nine species belonging to six genera were identified. Among them, seven species - Atylotus flavoguttatus (Szilady, 1915), Atylotus fulvus (Meigen, 1804), Dasyrhamphis nigritus (Fabricius, 1794), Haematopota latebricola Austen, 1925, Hybomitra caucasica (Enderlein, 1925), Philipomyia aprica (Meigen, 1820), and Therioplectes tricolor Zeller, 1842 - are reported for the first time from Iran. These records significantly expand the known diversity of Tabanidae in the country and highlight the importance of continued sampling in ecologically rich but insufficiently studied areas. Notably, this study provides the first confirmed record of the genus Philipomyia in Iran. Additionally, an updated identification key to the genera of the subfamily Tabaninae in Iran is presented. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the distribution and taxonomy of Iranian Tabanidae and provide a baseline for future faunistic and epidemiological studies.