Bibio marci

Bibio marci
	Male B. marci
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Clade:	Pancrustacea
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Bibionidae
Genus:	Bibio
Species:	B. marci
Binomial name
	Bibio marci; (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
	Bibio funerosus (Harris, 1780); Pullata funerosus Harris, 1780; Tipula marci Linnaeus, 1758;

Bibio marci or St. Mark's fly or hawthorn fly,^[1] is a species of fly from the family Bibionidae. It is found across much of Europe.^[2] Their common name comes from the fact that the adults usually emerge around St Mark's Day, 25 April.

Description

Adult specimens are usually 12-14mm in length. They can be observed hovering with their prominent legs dangling below. The adults feed on nectar and are considered an important pollinator.^[3]

Like most bibionid larvae, they grow up in grassy areas and are herbivores and scavengers feeding on dead vegetation or living plant roots.^[3] Adult females usually lay their eggs in soil or decomposing vegetation.^[4]

Sexual dimorphism is noticeable in males having much larger eyes and heads.^[3]^[5]

Relationship to humans

Bibio marci larvae are known to be root damage pests of celery, asparagus, roses, saxifrages, lawn grass, lettuce and Polyanthus. They also feed on a very large number of plant species that are commercially unimportant.^[6]