Tabanus (The head is dark brown, most compound eyes have fallen off, the thorax is dark brown, the back is shell-shaped and shiny, and the wings are longer than the tail.)
[Naming]
[Source]
Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic of Materia Medica, Middle Grade, Fei Meng (flying Tabanus)
[Common Usage Level]
E
[Origin]
It is the female whole insect of the horsefly Tabanus bivittatus Matsumura or other insects of the same genus in the Tabanidae family.
[Characteristics]
The dried insect body is long and oval, similar to a bee, of medium size, 1.5-2cm long, 5-10mm wide, and yellow-green. The head is dark brown, and most of the compound eyes have fallen off. There is a narrow black horizontal band in the middle of the compound eye, short hairs on the top of the head, and yellow antennae. The thorax is dark brown, the back is shell-shaped and shiny, the wings are transparent, and the wings are longer than the tail. The underside of the thorax protrudes, is dark brown, and has 3 pairs of legs, which are often broken. The abdomen is brownish-yellow, has 6 segments, and has 3 pairs of legs. The texture is loose and brittle, and easily broken. The odor is peculiar and strong, and the taste is bitter and salty.
Medical practitioners believe that all Tabanus that suck the blood of cattle and horses can be used medicinally.
[Identification]
Larger, intact specimens without impurities are preferred.
[Category]
Invertebrates