| Crane Fly - Tipula dorsimacula Tipulidae is the largest family of Diptera with about 1,500 species in North America and 12,000 species worldwide. Order Diptera / Suborder Nematocera / Infraorder Tipulomorpha / Family Tipulidae / Subfamily Tipulinae Insects & Spiders Home | Flies Index | Flies Graphics | Family Tachinidae | Family Syrphidae | Bombyliidae |
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Live adult female fly photographed at Winfield IL USA April 23, 2004. Size: 25mm not including legs. I believe this giant crane fly had recently been laying eggs when I stumbled upon it - the tip of the abdomen is wet as if it had been in the water or mud. Thanks to Dr. Chen Young of Carnegie Museum of Natural History for identification of this specimen. |
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The small, bulbous structures are called halteres. They are used for balance and vibration damping during flight.
All true flies have these organs; they evolved from the (absent in flies) second set of wings present in most other insects.
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