Tanyderidae, or primitive crane flies, of the order Diptera are long, thin, delicate insects with spotted wings, superficially similar in appearance to some Tipulidae, Trichoceridae, and Ptychopteridae. Most species are restricted in distribution. They are found in many parts of the world, including North America, South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and various islands in the Pacific Ocean. Adults are usually found hanging from vegetation near streams. Larvae are found either in sandy stream margins or in wet, rotten wood. Fossil species are known.
References
- Borror, D.J., C.A. Triplehorn, & N.A. Johnson. 1989. An Introduction to the Study of Insects, Sixth edition. Saunders College Publishing.
- Krzeminski, W. & D.D. Judd. 1997. Family Tanyderidae. Pp. 281–289, in: Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera, Vol.2. L. Papp & B. Darvas, eds. Science Herald, Budapest.
- Poinar, G., Jr. & A.E. Brown. 2004. A New genus of primitive crane flies (Diptera: Tanyderidae) in Cretaceous Burmese amber, with a summary of fossil tanyderids. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 106: 339–345.
External links
