Penthetria
Guides
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.
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.