Bibio lepidus Loew, 1871

Skartveit, John, 2010, The larvae of European Bibioninae (Diptera, Bibionidae), Journal of Natural History 36 (4), pp. 449-485 : 458

Bibio lepidus Loew, 1871 (®gure 82)

Larva brie¯y described by Brindle (1962). I have not been able to ®nd any specimens despite considerable searching on localities on which the imagines are common. The dorsal processes are arranged in three pairs, post-spiracular processes are very short and placed approximatel y two spiracle diameters posterior to spiracles, and the cuticular structure consists of densely packed, rounded, spineless scales (®gure 82).

Distribution. Western Europe: Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, Western Russia. Status in Central and Eastern Europe is uncertain.

Ecology. Rather eurytopical species, common in woodlands and grasslands. Full-grown larvae should occur in July to August. It is interesting to note that the larva is apparently rather diVerent from that of Bibio clavipes , since these two species have been considered synonymous by several authors. The taxonomic problems within the Bibio clavipes group are still unresolved; possibly, the two forms act as good species in some areas ( Great Britain, Scandinavia) while they merge into one species in other areas (Central Europe).