Crane fly
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 Camerona Skinner
 Larva (leatherjacket)
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Crane flies are insects in the family Tipulidae, resembling giant mosquitoes. Like the mosquito, they are in the order Diptera (flies). Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from 2 mm to 60 mm (tropical species may exceed 100mm).
Numerous other common names have been applied to the crane fly, many of them more or less regional, including, mosquito hawks, mosquito eaters (or skeeter eaters), gallinippers, and jimmy spinners. In the United Kingdom they are commonly referred to as daddy long-legs, but this name can also refer (especially in the United States) to two unrelated arthropods: members of the arachnid order Opiliones and the cellar spider (Pholcidae).
At least 14,000 species of crane flies have been described, most of them (75%) by the specialist Charles P. Alexander. This makes the Tipulidae the largest family of Diptera. Despite the large numbers of species, the juvenile stages of most crane flies are unknown; less than 2% of the species' larvae have been described.
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[edit] Morphology
In appearance crane flies seem long and gangly, with very long legs, and a long slender abdomen. The wings are often held out when at rest, making the large halteres (balancers) easily visible. Unlike mosquitoes, crane flies are weak and poor fliers with a tendency to "wobble" in unpredictable patterns during flight, and they can be caught without much effort. However, it is very easy to accidentally break off their delicate legs when catching them, even without direct contact. This may help them to evade the birds who pursue them as prey.
Crane flies are variable in size, with temperate species ranging from 2 mm up to 60 mm, while tropical species have been recorded at over 100 mm[citation needed]. The Giant Crane Fly (Holorusia rubiginosa) of the western United States can reach 38 mm (1-3/8 inches). Some Tipula species are 64 mm (2-1/2 inches). There are many smaller species (known as bobbing gnats) that are mosquito-sized, but they can be distinguished from mosquitoes by the V-shaped suture on the thorax and a lack of ocelli.
The females have swollen abdomens (because of eggs held inside) in comparison to the males. The female abdomen also ends in a pointed ovipositor that looks a bit like a stinger but is completely harmless.
Adult mouthparts may occur on the end of the crane fly's long face, which is sometimes called a snout or a short rostrum.
Larvae have a distinct head capsule, and their abdominal segments often have long fleshy projections (almost like tentacles).
[edit] Ecology
Despite their common names, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes, nor do they bite humans. Adult crane flies feed on nectar or they do not feed at all; most crane fly species live only to mate and die once they become adults. Their larvae, called "leatherjackets" or "leatherjacket slugs" because of the way they move, consume roots (such as those of turf grass in backyard lawns) and other vegetation, in some cases causing damage to plants. Therefore the crane fly is occasionally considered a mild turf pest in some areas.
The juvenile biology of many crane fly species is little known. The larvae of less than 2% of the species have been described. Of those that have been described, many prefer moist environments, and some leatherjackets are aquatic.
The long legs are an adaptation to allow the fly to alight in grassy places.
Crane flies serve as a food source for many birds.
[edit] See also
- Crane fly orchid (Tipularia discolor)
[edit] External links
- Family descriptions and images
- Ohio State University Fact Sheet
- 1 Photo
- Crane Flies of Pennsylvania
- Crane Fly Tipula sp.
- Crane Fly Tipula dorsimacula
- Catalogue of Craneflies of the World
- Family Tipulidae - By Pjotr Oosterbroek
- Image Gallery from Diptera.info
- Image Gallery from Bug Guide Extensive
[edit] References
1. Oosterbroek, Pjotr. "Tipulidae" <http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/aocat/tipulidae.html>.
