Bibio articulatus

Red-Legged March Fly (Bibio articulatus) female

Species of fly

Bibio articulatus

Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Arthropoda
Class:  | Insecta
Order:  | Diptera
Family:  | Bibionidae
Genus:  | Bibio
Species:  |

B. articulatus

Binomial name
Bibio articulatus

Say, 1823

Bibio articulatus, or the red-legged March fly, is a species of March fly in the family Bibionidae.[1][2][3][4][5] Its distinctive features are its dark exoskeleton that varries from black to a deep red, and red/orange legs[6] leading to its common name being "red-legged March fly."[5]

## Range[edit]

Bibio articulatus is most commonly found in the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, all the way to the coast.[7]

## Habitat[edit]

Red-legged March flies can be found usually in rotting trees, or eating the leaves of plants without causing significant damage. They are also found in loose soil during their reproductive cycles.[6][7]

## Sexual Dimorphism[edit]

The sexual dimorphism in Bibio articulatus is mainly limited to eye size. Male red-legged March flies have eye formations that are dramatically larger and take up most of the head, while females have small eyes that sit on the side of the head.[8]

## Reproductive Cycle[edit]

Bibio articulatus will usually begin appearing in March, and be most active during April and May before going dormant during June.[5] After the mating period, the female Bibio articulatus will lay eggs in loose soil or decaying substrate. These eggs are usually small, oblong, and vary in color. The larvae will hatch resembling small, featureless, worms. The larvae will eventually encapsulate itself in a pupa and gain its coloration. At the emergence from the pupa, the adult red-legged March fly has functional wings and reproductive organs.[6]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Bibio articulatus Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
2. ^ "Bibio articulatus species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
3. ^ "Bibio articulatus". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
4. ^ "Bibio articulatus Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
5. ^ a b c "Red-Legged March Fly". inaturalist.org. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
6. ^ a b c "Bibio articulatus". pictureinsect.com. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
7. ^ a b "Species Bibio articulatus'". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
8. ^ "Bibio articulatus". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2024-06-13.

Taxon identifiers

Bibio articulatus|

* Wikidata: Q14189699
* BioLib: 862723
* BugGuide: 371338
* CoL: LR4Q
* EoL: 740511
* GBIF: 1591059
* iNaturalist: 494437
* IRMNG: 10129580
* ITIS: 121321
* Open Tree of Life: 4496888

This article related to members of the fly infraorder Bibionomorpha is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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