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FastestThings

Insects

Tabanus bovinus

Nachtigall’s 2004 video study of Tabanus bovinus found a mean of the fastest passes at 12.8 ± 4.3 mph (5.71 ± 1.90 m/s) (20.56 ± 6.84 km/h). Dean’s older Demoll 1918 maximum of 31.3 mph (14 m/s) does not count.

A tabanus bovinus can travel 12.8 mph (5.71 m/s), a verified measurement.

Also known as cattle fly, pale giant horsefly
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Top speed

Published as 5.71 m/sPublished as 5.71 m/sPublished as 5.71 m/s

Werner Nachtigall, Entomologia Generalis, 2004, abstract as reprinted by ResearchGate and the Schweizerbart publisher page. About 25 Tabanus bovinus, video at 50 half-frames per second near a herd, air temperature between 29 °C and 32 °C, wind that barely changed speed along the flight path. Of 111 analyzable fast flights, the mean of the fastest was 12.8 ± 4.3 mph (5.71 ± 1.90 m/s) (20.56 ± 6.84 km/h). Wingbeat 110 ± 10 per second. Body length 0.075 ± 0.01 feet (2.3 ± 0.3 cm). The figure is 12.8 mph (5.71 m/s). Dean’s Table 1 also says Demoll 1918 at 31.3 mph (14 m/s), maximum airspeed, free flying. That older maximum does not count.

VerifiedResearchGate, reprinting Entomologia Generalis (opens source in a new tab)

In context

  • 55% of Usain Bolt's 100 m world-record paceSourced · Usain Bolt, 100 m in 9.58 s. World Athletics, Berlin 2009. Averaged over the race
  • 20% of a cheetah's timed top speedSourced · Cheetah, 29 m/s. Sharp 1997, mean of three timed runs over 201.2 m
  • A football field in 16 sConstant · American football field, 100 yd (91.44 m)

Worked out from the sourced figure above, which stays the ranked number.

Quick answers

People also ask

How fast can a tabanus bovinus travel?

A tabanus bovinus can travel 12.8 mph (5.71 m/s), a verified measurement.

Is that figure claimed or verified?

Tabanus bovinus is labeled Verified. Independently measured and published, for example in a peer-reviewed study or with certified timing.

What is the source?

The figure cites ResearchGate, reprinting Entomologia Generalis, “Aspects of flight of the fast flying cattle fly, speed.”

Where does Tabanus bovinus rank?

Tabanus bovinus is 8th of 10 on Fastest Insects.

Mechanism

Why it's so fast

Tabanus bovinus is ranked at 12.8 mph (5.71 m/s), the mean of the fastest passes in Nachtigall’s 2004 video study. The paper also says 12.8 ± 4.3 mph (20.56 ± 6.84 km/h). Dean’s older Demoll 1918 maximum of 31.3 mph (14 m/s) does not count.

Fast passes
12.8 ± 4.3 mph (5.71 ± 1.90 m/s)
Wingbeat
110 ± 10 Hz
1918 cell
31.3 mph (14 m/s), not ranked

  1. 111 fast passes

    About 25 flies, body length 0.075 ± 0.01 feet (2.3 ± 0.3 cm), were filmed at 50 half-frames per second beside a herd, at 29–32 °C. Of 111 analyzable fast flights, the mean of the fastest was 12.8 ± 4.3 mph (5.71 ± 1.90 m/s). Wingbeat was 110 ± 10 per second, and one beat covered about 0.175 feet (5.34 cm), or 2.2 body lengths.

  2. The 1918 maximum stays beside the main figure

    Dean’s table still says 31.3 mph (14 m/s) for this species, Demoll 1918, coded maximum airspeed. His prose treats the reliable refereed airspeeds as much lower. A 31.3 mph (14 m/s) cell from 1918 is not substituted for the video mean.

Provenance

Every measurement

Claimed, measured and official figures side by side, each with its source. The ranked figure is marked.

  1. 20.6km/h12.8mph5.71m/s11.1knRanked figure

    Werner Nachtigall, Entomologia Generalis, 2004, abstract as reprinted by ResearchGate and the Schweizerbart publisher page. About 25 Tabanus bovinus, video at 50 half-frames per second near a herd, air temperature between 29 °C and 32 °C, wind that barely changed speed along the flight path. Of 111 analyzable fast flights, the mean of the fastest was 12.8 ± 4.3 mph (5.71 ± 1.90 m/s) (20.56 ± 6.84 km/h). Wingbeat 110 ± 10 per second. Body length 0.075 ± 0.01 feet (2.3 ± 0.3 cm). The figure is 12.8 mph (5.71 m/s). Dean’s Table 1 also says Demoll 1918 at 31.3 mph (14 m/s), maximum airspeed, free flying. That older maximum does not count.

    Demoll 1918 in Dean’s table is 31.3 mph (14 m/s). Dean’s prose does not treat that early maximum as the reliable refereed airspeed. What counts is Nachtigall’s 12.8 mph (5.71 m/s).

    Verified
    ResearchGate, reprinting Entomologia Generalis (opens source in a new tab)

Reference

Specs

Species
Tabanus bovinus
Fast passes
12.8 ± 4.3 mph (5.71 ± 1.90 m/s)
Wingbeat
110 ± 10 Hz

Context

Background

Nachtigall filmed fast passes of the cattle fly Tabanus bovinus beside a herd. The abstract says about 25 insects, body length 0.075 ± 0.01 feet (2.3 ± 0.3 cm), at 29–32 °C, with video at 50 half-frames per second. Across 111 analyzable fast flights, the mean of the fastest was 12.8 ± 4.3 mph (5.71 ± 1.90 m/s), which the paper also says as 12.8 ± 4.3 mph (20.56 ± 6.84 km/h). The wingbeat, from the audio track, was 110 ± 10 beats per second, and one beat carried the fly about 0.175 feet (5.34 cm), or 2.2 body lengths. The figure is 12.8 mph (5.71 m/s), qualifier verified.

Dean’s table still says an older maximum of 31.3 mph (14 m/s) for this species, Demoll 1918, coded maximum airspeed and free flying. Dean’s own prose says the highest reliable refereed airspeeds are the locust and, as he cites it, the corn earworm, both well below 31.3 mph (14 m/s). The 1918 cell is extra detail, not the figure. Guinness names Tabanus bovinus among insects whose maintainable airspeed is 24.2 mph (39 km/h) as a class, which is also not this row.

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