FNZ 20 - Bibionidae (Insecta: Diptera) - Introduction
Harrison, RA 1990. Bibionidae (Insecta: Diptera). Fauna of New Zealand 20, 28 pages.
(
ISSN 0111-5383 (print),
;
no.
20.
ISBN 0-477-02595-1 (print),
).
Published 13 Nov 1990
ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/References/B52BAEA5-8E92-48C2-88FD-C08826C7DCAA
Introduction
Bibionid flies occur worldwide, abundantly in tropical and temperate regions. There are about seven hundred known species. They are commonly known as march flies, but this is not current usage in respect of the New Zealand species.
New Zealand representatives of the family Bibionidae are here all included in the genus Dilophus Meigen. In the Catalogue of the Diptera of New Zealand (Miller 1950), however, Bibio imitator Walker is listed, implying that it is part of the bibionid fauna of New Zealand. It is now generally accepted that this record of occurrence is not valid.
The genus Bibio was used by Walker (1848) to encompass his new species nigrostigma, which is endemic to New Zealand, and the first bibionid to be described from this country. Hutton (1901) recorded three species, two of which he described as new, in the genus Dilophus, and transferred nigrostigma to Dilophus .
There was a gap of over 50 years before the bibionids of New Zealand were again investigated. Then Hardy (1951, 1953) recorded one species of Bibio and six of Philia Meigen, four of the latter being new species. This current review recognises eight extant species, all endemic to New Zealand; three of them are newly described. A fossil species from an Eocene siltstone lens is also noted as part of New Zealand's bibionid fauna.
Within the New Zealand representatives of Dilophus, nigrostigma stands out as a large, bold species having strong spines and prominences on legs and thorax. It is also the most common.
Two species have reduced venation, but there is no reason beyond this character to consider them closely related. All other species have normal venation (i.e., no obvious reductions or absences) and appear to be within the limits of a close relationship, yet with satisfactory distinguishing characters.
Hardy (1982) has recorded information to suggest that at least five Australian species of Dilophus bear resemblances to New Zealand species.