Bibionidae
Guides
Bibio abbreviatus
Bibio abbreviatus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Loew in 1864. Adults emerge in spring and are known for forming large swarming aggregations. Males possess holoptic eyes that meet at the top of the head, while females have relatively small heads. The species belongs to a genus of decomposer flies whose larvae develop in soil.
Bibio albipennis
White-winged March Fly
Bibio albipennis, the White-winged March Fly, is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae native to North America. Adults are most commonly observed in spring, with males forming conspicuous swarms to attract mates. The species is widespread across the continent and is one of approximately 37 currently recognized Bibio species north of Mexico. Like other bibionids, it plays a role in nutrient cycling through larval feeding on decaying organic matter.
Bibio articulatus
red-legged march fly
Bibio articulatus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, commonly known as the red-legged march fly. It is distinguished by its dark exoskeleton ranging from black to deep red and its conspicuous red or orange legs. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, particularly in eye size and body proportions. It is most active during spring months and is found primarily in the eastern United States.
Bibio brunnipes
Bibio brunnipes is a march fly in the family Bibionidae with a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern regions of both the Old and New Worlds. The species has been subject to taxonomic revision, with several previously described species now synonymized under B. brunnipes. Like other members of the genus, adults are typically active in spring and may occur in large aggregations. Larval stages develop in soil and contribute to decomposition processes.
Bibio holtii
Bibio holtii is a species of March fly described by McAtee in 1922. It belongs to the family Bibionidae, a group characterized by males with large holoptic eyes and females with small heads relative to body size. The species exhibits a Holarctic distribution pattern, occurring across the northern hemisphere. Like other Bibio species, adults are typically active in spring and form conspicuous swarms.
Bibio lanigerus
Shaggy St Mark's Fly
Bibio lanigerus, commonly known as the Shaggy St Mark's Fly, is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. It occurs across the Palearctic region, with confirmed records from Belgium and other parts of Europe. As with other Bibio species, adults emerge in spring and males form swarming aggregations to attract mates.
Bibio longipes
Bibio longipes is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. It is found in both the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. Like other members of the genus Bibio, adults are typically active in spring and are known for forming large mating swarms. The species was described by Loew in 1864.
Bibio necotus
Bibio necotus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Hardy in 1937. Like other members of the genus Bibio, adults are medium-sized flies that emerge in spring and often form conspicuous mating swarms. Males possess large, holoptic compound eyes that meet at the top of the head, while females have disproportionately small heads. The species is part of a diverse North American fauna of approximately 37 currently recognized Bibio species, many of which were historically difficult to distinguish based on external characters alone.
Bibio rufipes
March fly
Bibio rufipes is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. Adults emerge in spring, with males forming conspicuous swarms that blanket ground and low vegetation. Females possess fossorial adaptations including stout, downcurved spurs on the fore tibiae used to excavate soil for egg-laying. The species occurs across northern Europe including Norway and Sweden.
Bibio siebkei
Bibio siebkei is a Holarctic species of March fly in the family Bibionidae. It occurs across both the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, with synonyms including Bibio labradorensis and Bibio monstri now synonymized with this species. Like other Bibio species, adults are likely to be encountered in spring when males form swarming aggregations. Larval stages develop in soil where they feed on decaying organic matter.
Bibio superfluus
Garden Maggot
Bibio superfluus, commonly known as the Garden Maggot, is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. Adults are active in spring, with males forming conspicuous swarms that attract females for mating. The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in head structure. Larvae develop in soil where they feed on decaying organic matter and plant roots.
Bibio xanthopus
yellow-footed March fly
Bibio xanthopus, commonly known as the yellow-footed March fly, is a species of March fly in the family Bibionidae first described by Wiedemann in 1828. It is one of the most common species of Bibio in North America. The species exhibits considerable size variation and displays distinct sexual dimorphism in head morphology and wing coloration.
Bibiodes
March flies
Bibiodes is a genus of march flies (family Bibionidae) established by Coquillett in 1904. The genus contains eight described species, including two extinct species known from Baltic amber (B. balticus and B. nanus) and one from Florissant shale (B. intermedia). Most extant species are found in the Northern Hemisphere, with records from North America, Europe, and China.
Bibiodes halteralis
March fly
Bibiodes halteralis is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, described by Coquillett in 1904. March flies in this family are generally robust, medium-sized flies with distinctive morphological features. The species is part of a genus characterized by particular wing and body structures, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available literature.
Dilophus
March flies
Dilophus is a genus of march flies (Diptera: Bibionidae) comprising at least 200 described species. The genus is distinguished from the related genus Bibio by morphological features of the fore legs. Species occur across multiple continents including North America, Europe, and the Afrotropical region. Adults are typically small to medium-sized flies, often reddish in coloration rather than black.
Dilophus occipitalis
Dilophus occipitalis is a species of March fly in the family Bibionidae. It is a true fly (Diptera) and belongs to a genus commonly known as March flies or lovebugs. The species was described by Coquillett in 1904.
Dilophus serotinus
March fly
Dilophus serotinus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Loew in 1861. Like other members of the genus Dilophus, adults are typically smaller and less robust than related Bibio species, often with reddish coloration. The genus is characterized by a ring of shorter teeth on the front legs rather than the long spurs found in Bibio. As with other bibionids, larvae develop in soil and feed on decaying organic matter.
Dilophus spinipes
Dilophus spinipes is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. The genus Dilophus is distinguished from the related genus Bibio by having a ring of shorter teeth on the forelegs rather than long spurs. Members of this genus are typically smaller and less robust than Bibio, often with reddish coloration. Like other bibionids, adults are short-lived and emerge in large numbers during spring months.
Dilophus strigilatus
March fly
Dilophus strigilatus is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae, first described by McAtee in 1922. Like other Dilophus species, it belongs to a genus distinguished from the related Bibio by having a ring of shorter teeth on the fore tibiae rather than long spurs. Adults emerge in spring and are typically smaller and less robust than Bibio species, often with reddish coloration.
Dilophus tibialis
Dilophus tibialis is a species of march fly in the family Bibionidae. It is one of approximately 15-18 Dilophus species recognized in North America north of Mexico. The genus Dilophus is distinguished from the similar genus Bibio by having a ring of shorter teeth on the tibiae rather than long spurs. Species in this genus are typically smaller and less robust than Bibio, and often exhibit reddish coloration rather than black.
Dilophus tingi
March fly
Dilophus tingi is a species of March fly in the family Bibionidae. Like other members of the genus Dilophus, it is likely smaller and less robust than the related genus Bibio, and frequently exhibits reddish coloration. March flies are spring-emerging dipterans known for their swarming behavior and fossorial egg-laying habits.
Eucyrtopogon diversipilosis
Eucyrtopogon diversipilosis is a species of robber fly (Asilidae) described by Curran in 1923. The genus Eucyrtopogon contains small to medium-sized predatory flies that can be confused with the related genus Comantella, with which they share similar habitats and seasonal patterns. Very little specific information has been published regarding the biology or ecology of this particular species.
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March flies
Penthetria is a genus of March flies (family Bibionidae) established by Meigen in 1803. Species in this genus have been documented in forest ecosystems, with at least one species, Penthetria holosericea, studied for its role in litter decomposition. The genus has a Holarctic distribution with records from Europe and North America. Males of some species exhibit brachypterous (shortened) wings.
Penthetria arizonensis
Penthetria arizonensis is a species of March fly in the family Bibionidae, described by Fitzgerald in 2021. The genus Penthetria comprises distinctive flies known for their robust, hump-backed appearance and early spring emergence. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Plecia
Lovebugs, March flies
Plecia is a genus of march flies in the family Bibionidae, commonly known as lovebugs. Several species, particularly Plecia nearctica, are notable for their distinctive mating behavior where males and females remain coupled in flight for hours or days. Adults are small flies, typically 6-9 mm long, with sexual dimorphism in head size—males possess large, bulbous compound eyes while females have relatively tiny heads. The genus includes both extant and fossil species, with fossil records dating from the Cretaceous through the Pleistocene. Some species have become significant nuisance pests due to their mass emergences and attraction to automobile exhaust.