March-flies
Guides
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 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.
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.
Bibionidae
March flies, lovebugs, honeymoon flies
Bibionidae is a family of medium-sized flies (Diptera) comprising approximately 650–700 species worldwide. Adults are characterized by thickset bodies, moniliform antennae, and distinctive stout spurs on the front tibiae used by females for digging. The family includes notable genera such as Bibio, Dilophus, and Plecia—the latter containing the famous 'lovebugs' known for prolonged copulatory pairing. Adults of many species are nectar feeders and important pollinators, while larvae are soil-dwelling decomposers and occasional plant pests.
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 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.
Penthetria
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.
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.