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Bibionidae - Britain (in development)

Authors: Even Dankowicz

Last updated: July 2018

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Bibionidae

Fore tibiae

spurred

rows of spines

Anterior Dorsal Thorax

Lacking spines

Two rows of spines

Dilophus sp., DC, © Katja Schultz, iNaturalist / CC-BY

Fore tibia with

2-3 rows of spines

Anterior thorax with

2 rows of spines

Bibio fraternus, DC, © Katja Schultz, iNaturalist / CC-BY

Fore tibia with

2 spurs

Anterior thorax

unadorned

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Bibio

antomeres

protibiae

Inner protibial spur

Body

legs

Base of R4+5 vs r-m

wings

B. venosus

England

8-9

straight and elongate

Long

Black, yellowish humeri

Black to brownish black

subequal

Brownish hyaline

B. leucopterus

widespread

9

swollen

Long

Black

black

subequal

M milky, F smoky

B. pomonae

widespread

7

swollen

Shorter

Black

Femora red, tibiae black, male hind basitarsi distinctively swollen

2x

hyaline

B. marci

Eng; Scot

7

Swollen

Shorter

Black, black haired

black

2x

M hyaline, F smoky

B. hortulanus

England

7

Swollen

Shorter

M black, F with abdomen, scutum red, broad; White haired

Black

2x

M hyaline, F smoky

B. clavipes

widespread

Swollen

Shorter

M black; F reddish with 3 black stirpes; white-haired

Black, femoral base elongate

subequal

Stigma pale, wing whitish

B. lepidus

England

Swollen

Shorter

black

Black, F reddish black, femoral base elongate

Subequal

Stigma dark; hyaline

B. nigriventris

Eng; Scot

5-6

Swollen

Shorter

black

Black, reddish, femoral base robust

Subequal

M milky, F brownish

B. anglicus

England

8

Swollen

Shorter

M black, F scutum, abdomen orange, less broad

Black, femoral base robust

Subequal

Slightly smoky

B. ferruginatus

Eng; Scot

8

Swollen

Shorter

M black, F thorax black, abdomen red

Black, femoral base robust

Subequal

Somewhat smoky

B. reticulatus

Eng; Scot

7+

Swollen

Shorter

Black, pale haired

, femoral base robust, F metatibial spurs broad, flat (below not so much)

Subequal

Hyaline, dark-veined

B. johannis

Eng; Scot

7

Swollen

Shorter

Black; M thorax and abdomen entirley black setose

M black, F brownish, femoral base robust; male hind tibia with sensilla field strongly darkened

Subequal

Hyaline, Posterior veins lighter; pterostigma blackish

B. lanigerus (=hybridus)

Eng; Scot

7+

Swollen

Shorter

Black, M thorax or abdomen with at least some pale hair. M pale hair on mesonotum at least in NO; medial mesonotum finely sculpted, more shiny; female abdomen black;

M femora black, legs otherwise reddish; femoral base robust, M metabasitarsus 3x long as wide, swollen; hind tibia with sensilla field concolrous

Subequal

Posterior veins lighter, stigma pale brownish

B. varipes

widespread

7+

Swollen

Shorter

Black, M thorax or abdomen with at least some pale hair; M black hair on mesonotum; medial mesonotum coarsely sculpted, not shiny; ventral female abdomen yellowish

, femoral base robust, M metabasitarsus 4x long as wide, not swollen; hind tibia with sensilla field concolrous

Subequal

Posterior veins lighter, stigma brownish

B. edwardsi

Eng; Scot

7

Swollen

Shorter

Black, M long white hair

, femoral base robust, M metabasitarsus 4x long as wide

subequal

Posterior veins lighter, sitgma brown

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Dilophus

F head ahead of eyes

Medial protibial spines (basal:apical)

thorax

abdomen

legs

wings

D. febrilis

widespread

In 2 medial rows (3/2:1)

Black, white hairs, shiny

Black, white hairs

Black

M hyaline, F smoky

D. bispinosus

SE England

In 2 medial rows (2:2)

M black, brownish humerae, F reddish

M black, F reddish

M black, F yellowish

Pale yellowish

D. femoratus

widespread

Protrudes

1 medial row

black, white hairs, shiny, F mildly reddish laterally

Black

M black, F reddish

hyaline

D. humeralis

SE England

Truncate

1 medial row

black, white hairs, shiny, F strongly reddish laterally

Black

M black, F reddish

M hyaline, F yellowish

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References

Sources for this entire project include:

  • BugGuide.net
  • iNaturalist.org
  • Steve Marshall - Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera
  • Diptera.org
  • Nearctic Manual of Diptera

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References

Other sources consulted for this specific document include:

  • Freeman, Lane, 1985. Bibionid and Scatopsid Flies. Royal Entomological Soceity of London.
  • Fitzgerald, 2004. Evolution and Classification of Bibionidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha). PhD Dissertation, Oregon State University.
  • Skartveit J. Distribution and flight periods of Bibio Geoffroy, 1762 species (Diptera, Bibionidae) in Norway, with a key to the species. FAUNA NORVEGICA SERIA B. 1995;42:83-112.
  • Skartveit J, Bland KP, Whittington AE. The distribution of Bibionidae (Diptera) in Scotland. Studia dipterologica. 2014 Sep 26;20(2):335-64.