The apparent rarity of Bibio species in Kent.

[Laurence Clemons]

The wet weather over the past week has seen the end to most of the typical early Spring species. One curious observation here in Kent was the rarity of the large St. Mark's fly Bibio marci. Throughout the whole of May I saw just two individuals and encountered none of the mating swarms characteristic of the species. Bibio johannis was the most frequently recorded species with numbers beginning to appear in late March. Apart from these the only other species of the genus encountered were singletons of B. anglicus and B. leucopterus. In contrast I have noted large numbers of the bibionid Dilophus femoratus in some coastal localities. Has there been a paucity of Bibionidae elsewhere in the country?

[oxycera]

Now you've mentioned it I can't say I've noticed it round here either. Curious.

[Wild-Woman]

I have seen them,but not in the numbers that I normally see on the marshes.

[nutmeg]

I saw quite a lot in early May on the Lincs coast at Gibraltar Point - not sure which Bibio species they were though (do have some photos, but haven't looked for ID). I also saw a few further inland, where I live, but nothing like as many as usual.