Bibio pomonae
| Bibio pomonae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bibio pomonae, female | |
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| Bibio pomonae, male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Hexapoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Bibionidae |
| Genus: | Bibio |
| Species: | B. pomonae |
| Binomial name | |
| Bibio pomonae (Fabricius, 1775) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Bibio pomonae, common name Red-thighed St Mark's Fly or Heather Fly, is a species of flies (Diptera) belonging to the family Bibionidae.
Description
Bibio pomonae can reach a length of about 10–13 millimetres (0.39–0.51 in), while the length of the wings reaches 8–12 millimetres (0.31–0.47 in).[2] The basic body color is shiny black, with a black long abdomen, deep crimson-red femurs and dark tibiae and tarsi. Front tibia show a pair of large spurs. Wings are milky-white with darkened veins on the costal area and a dark spot on the leading edge. The 10-segmented antennae are relatively short and thick. Males and females are very different, as the holoptic males show very large eyes and a flattened abdomen, while the females have small head and eyes and a sharp abdomen.[3] The larvae are reddish brown.
Biology
Adults feed mostly on nectar and are important pollinators.[3] Larvae develop during Fall and Winter feeding on dead leaves, compost, decaying organic matter and Poaceae roots [2][4]
Adults are late summer flyers, but they occur from May to October.[2] [5]
Distribution
This species can be found across most of the Palearctic ecozone (Europe and North Asia), but in southern Europe can be found only in the mountains.[6]
Habitat
This fly occurs in hedge rows of hill countries, on moorland and mountain birch forests, in woodland edges, fields and in wetlands.[2]
References
- ↑ Biolib
- 1 2 3 4 Commanster
- 1 2 Wildlife Trust
- ↑ Triplethorne & Johnson (2004). Borror's Introduction to the Study of Insects, Brooks-Cole. 715-716
- ↑ Key to Highland Bibionids
- ↑ Fauna Europaea