|
 |
Crane Fly - Tipula (Lunatipula) submaculata or Tipula mallochi
Insecta (Insects) / Pterygota (flying insects) / Diptera (Flies) /
Nematocera / Limoniidae (Limoniid Crane Flies) / Tipula
Tentative
identification by Chen Young,
Crane
Flies of Pennsylvania
|
|
|
| Adult crane flies are sluggish
fliers and are often abundant in moist woodlands and around
water, usually near places where their larval life is spent.
They occur mainly in spring and fall, but species of wingless,
snow crane flies (Chionea) appear in the winter.
Adult crane flies are most active in the cooler part of the day,
usually around dusk. Adult males are more abundant at the
beginning of the flight period while females are more numerous
toward the end. Although individual adults have a relatively
short life span of 10 to 15 days, the flight period for each
species can last from 25-30 days. The main functions of the
adult stage are mating and egg-laying. Feeding is less
important, and probably water is the most pressing need. Species
with elongated rostrum (Geranomyia, Elephantomyia,
Toxorhina) have been reported visiting flowers,
probably for nectars.
(1) |
|
|
|
|
Tipulidae, often called crane flies in
their adult stage, is the largest family of
true flies. Crane flies form a highly
diverse group of insects, both in number of
species and in larval habitats, which extend
from aquatic to terrestrial. The body plan
or morphology of crane flies is rather
simple. An elongate body, one pair of
narrow wings, and long, slender legs
characterize them. The body size ranges
from 5 to 50 mm and can be described as
mosquito-like. They are often mistaken for
mosquitoes, but they belong to a group of
harmless flies and can be distinguished from
all other true flies by the transverse
V-shaped groove on the dorsal part of the
thorax.
In North America, more than 1,500 species of
crane flies have been described and over 300
species are known from Pennsylvania. This
number probably represents only about
two-thirds of the estimated actual number
for the state, and much more precise
taxonomic studies are needed.
Crane flies undergo complete metamorphosis
in their development with a brief egg stage,
a relatively long larval feeding stage, a
brief pupal resting stage, and finally a
short adult breeding stage.
Crane flies serve several important roles in
the ecosystem. Most importantly, adult and
larval crane flies are food for many animals
such as birds, fish, frogs, lizards, spiders
and other insects. In addition, the larvae
are detritus feeders that break down organic
matter in various habitats such as streams
and forest floors thereby enriching the
soil, renewing and modifying the
microhabitat for other invertebrate
species. Some crane flies require special
habitat conditions, and their presence or
absence can be used as an indicator of
environmental quality. Fishermen use larvae
of some large crane flies as bait. Several
species of crane flies are important
agricultural pests; their larvae feed on
seedlings of field crops and if abundant can
be destructive to lawns, rangelands, rice
fields, and golf courses.
1.
Crane Flies of Pennsylvania |
|
|
