Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Bibionomorpha » March Flies (Bibionidae) » Lovebugs (Plecia)

Genus Plecia - Lovebugs

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Lovebug - Plecia - female Plecia nearctica - male - female Plecia nearctica - male - female Type of Moth? - Plecia - - Plecia black and orange - Plecia - male - female Love Bugs - Plecia - male - female WANT AD - Plecia nearctica - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))
Infraorder Bibionomorpha
Family Bibionidae (March Flies)
Genus Plecia (Lovebugs)
Numbers
Two North American species: P. americana and P. nearctica (see nearctica.com)
Size
13-15 mm
Identification
Dark flies with prominent reddish thorax.
Season
Spring (usually May), and fall (October).
Food
Adults take nectar, other fluids.
Life Cycle
Eggs are deposited in moist areas. Larvae feed on decaying organic matter. Swarms of copulating adults can be a pest. Females live for approximately one week.
Print References
Arnett, p. 854, figs. 29.14, 29.15 (1)
Arnett, #316 (2)
Deyrup, pp. 122-123, has several photographs of P. nearctica (3)
Drees, p. 204, fig. 216 (4)
Internet References
Love Bug--Featured Creatures--gives a key to the two species
Univ. of Florida Entomology 3005 notes on Plecia
Plecia nearctica (TAMU)
NCSU Entomology Collection lists both species for North Carolina, with P. americana being more common in the collection than nearctica.
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
By Ross H. Arnett
2.Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects
By Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques
3.Florida's Fabulous Insects
By Mark Deyrup, Brian Kenney, Thomas C. Emmel
4.A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects
By Bastiaan M. Drees, John A. Jackman
Contributed by Cotinis on 17 May, 2004 - 4:11pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact