Bibionidae

The Bibionidae (called Bibions, flies of the Saint-Marc) are a family of Diptères Nematocera which counts nearly 600 species in the world and a little more than 40 in Europe, including 18 in France. They are flies of variable size, often hairy, with the former tibiae armed with spines or lines of spurs. The larvae live in the ground, taking part in the decomposition of the dead vegetable matter. The European species are distributed in 2 principal kinds, ( Bibio and Dilophus ). These insects are very characteristic and easily recognizable.

Morphology

Adult :

reinflated former Femurs, tibiae former with spines or teeth
Antennas at least of half as long as the head
palpi of 4 articles, longer as the antennas
unicoloured Wings, transparent or browned with a distinct stigma and often the former veins strongly sclerified.

Larvae

Body with many digitations laid out regularly on each segment.
On the alive one, they are slightly curved, in the shape of a bracket.
posterior Marks with 2 ( Bibio spp.) or 3 openings ( Dilophus spp.).

Harmful species with the market gardenings in France

Bibio hortulanus (Linnaeus) horticultural Bibion
Bibio johannis (Linnaeus) Bibion
Bibio marci (Linnaeus) Bibion of the Saint Marc
Bibio pomonae (Fabricius) Bibion
Dilophus febrilis (Linnaeus) Small bibion
Dilophus femoratus (Meigen) Small bibion

Biology

The larvae develop in vegetable matters in decomposition, in wet wood, the litter of the forests or on the level of the roots and the collets. Bibions meet sometimes in very great quantity and must generally be regarded as secondary ravageurs. The larvae harm mainly the roots of many plants.

The adult often appear masses some, generally at the beginning of spring. There is generally only one annual generation ( Bibio ), sometimes two (several species of Dilophus ).

Kinds present in Europe

(between brackets, many European species)

Bibio Geoffroy 1762 (25 species)
Dilophus Meigen 1803 (15 species)
Penthetria Meigen 1803 (2 species)

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