Crane fly

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crane fly

Nephrotoma appendiculata (Spotted Crane-fly)

larva (leatherjacket)

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Suborder:	Nematocera
Infraorder:	Tipulomorpha
Family:	Tipulidae Latreille, 1802

Genera

this list may be incomplete

Subfamily Cylindrotominae
- Cylindrotoma
- Liogma
- Phalacrocera
- Triogma
Subfamily Limoniinae
- Tribe Eriopterini (27 genera)
- Tribe Hexatomini (15 genera)
- Tribe Limoniini (7 genera)
- Tribe Pediciini (5 genera)
Subfamily Tipulinae
- Brachypremna
- Ctenophora
- Dolichopeza
- Holorusia
- Leptotarsus
- Megistocera
- Nephrotoma
- Prionocera
- Tipula

Insects in the family Tipulidae are commonly known as crane flies. Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from 2–60 mm (tropical species may exceed 100 mm).

In Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland they are commonly referred to as daddy long-legs, but this name can also refer to two unrelated arthropods: members of the arachnid order Opiliones (especially in the United States and Canada) and the cellar spider Pholcidae (especially in Australia).

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, gollywhoppers, and jimmy spinners.

At least 14,000 species of crane flies have been described, most of them (75%) by the specialist Charles Paul Alexander. This makes the Tipulidae the largest family of Diptera.

1 Morphology
2 Ecology
3 Misconceptions
- 3.1 Venom
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
- 6.1 Species lists

[edit] Morphology

Close-up on the head of a crane-fly (Nephrotoma quadrifaria). Notice the mouth parts, the compound eyes and the antennae

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 most flies, 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^{[citation needed]}.

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. The Giant Crane Fly (Holorusia rubiginosa) of the western United States can reach 38 mm (1.5 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, non-piercing mouthparts, and a lack of scales on the wing veins.

The females have swollen abdomens in comparison to the males because they contain eggs. The female abdomen also ends in a pointed ovipositor that may look 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 surrounding the posterior spiracles (almost like tentacles).

[edit] Ecology

Despite their common names, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes as adults, nor do they bite humans. Some larval crane flies may on occasion feed on mosquito larvae. ^[1] Adult crane flies feed on nectar or they do not feed at all; once they become adults, most crane fly species live only to mate and die. Their larvae, called "leatherjackets", "leatherbacks", "leatherback bugs" or "leatherjacket slugs", because of the way they move, consume roots (such as those of turf grass) and other vegetation, in some cases causing damage to plants. Therefore the crane fly is occasionally considered a mild turf pest in some areas. In 1935, Lord's cricket ground in London was among the venues affected by leatherjackets: several thousand were collected by ground staff and burned, because they caused bald patches on the wicket and the pitch took unaccustomed spin for much of the season.^[2]

Little is known of the juvenile biology of many crane fly species. 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 that may allow the fly to alight in grassy places.^{[citation needed]}

Crane flies are a food source for many birds. They are also susceptible to fungal infections and are a food source for many other insects.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Misconceptions

[edit] Venom

Main article: Pholcidae#Most venomous?

There is an urban legend stating that the daddy long-legs spider has the most potent venom of any spider, and this same legend is attributed to crane flies where they commonly go by the name "daddy-long legs" (principally in the United Kingdom).

However, both the daddy long-legs spider and the crane fly are in fact innocuous; the spider's venom is practically harmless to humans, and the crane fly is not venomous. The commonly confused harvestman, also known as daddy long-legs but which isn't a spider, is also not venomous.