large crane flies
(Family Tipulidae)
| Overview | Tipulidae, called large crane flies, is one of the largest families of flies. There are more than 15,000 species worldwide, almost 1,500 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 116 species in Minnesota. They are very common and very widespread, having been found on every continent including Greenland and Antarctica. Larvae feed on decaying organic material either in water or in moist soil. Adults feed on flower nectar. They are found around abundant vegetation often near water. |
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| Photo by Luciearl | |||||||
| Identification | Large crane flies have very long legs and look like mosquitoes, but they do not bite. They are sometimes inaccurately called “mosquito hawks,” but they are anatomically unable to eat other insects. Adults are ⅜″ to 1⅜″ (10 to 35 mm) in length. There are two compound eyes but no simple eyes (ocelli). The paired, antennae-like, sensory appendages attached to the mouth (maxillary palps) have four segments. The last segment is very long, longer than the other three segments combined. There is a distinct V-shaped groove on the plate on the upper side of the second thoracic segment (scutum). On the wing the radial vein (R) has 4 or fewer branches, and 2 anal veins extend to the wing margin. |
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| Distribution |  |
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| Comments |
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| Taxonomy | Order: |
Diptera (gnats, mosquitoes, true flies) |
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Suborder: |
Nematocera (long-horned flies) |
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Infraorder: |
Tipulomorpha (crane flies) |
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Superfamily: |
Tipuloidea |
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Family: |
Tipulidae (large crane flies) |
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| Subordinate Taxa | antlered crane fly (Tanyptera dorsalis) band-winged crane fly (Epiphragma fasciapenne) European crane fly (Tipula paludosa) ferruginous tiger crane fly (Nephrotoma ferruginea) giant crane fly (Tipula abdominalis) |
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| Synonyms |
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| Common Names |
crane flies large crane flies |
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Glossary
Maxillae
Paired mouth structures of arthropods located immediately behind the mandible and used for tasting and manipulating food.
Ocellus
Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.
Palp
Short for pedipalp. A segmented, finger-like process of an arthropod; one is attached to each maxilla and two are attached to the labium. They function as sense organs in spiders and insects, and as weapons in scorpions. Plural: palpi.
Scutum
The forward (anterior) portion of the middle segment of the thorax (mesonotum) in insects and some arachnids.
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| Charlie Heitzig | |||
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| Luciearl | |||
Resting on the garage door. |
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| Alfredo Colon | |||
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| MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos | |||
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| Crane fly, Tipulidae Glen Warren |
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About
Published on Nov 29, 2016 Crane fly, Tipulidae. |
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| Visitor Sightings | ||||
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Charlie Heitzig 8/29/2020 |
Location: Hennepin County |
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| Luciearl 6/13/2020 |
Location: Cass County Resting on the garage door. |
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| MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings | ||||
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Created: 7/18/2019
Last Updated: