Crane fly: Difference between revisions

Crane fly
	Nephrotoma appendiculata (spotted crane-fly)
	larva (leatherjacket)
Scientific classification
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; ;

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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 the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand 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 hawk, mosquito eater (or skeeter eater), gallinipper,^[1] gollywhopper,^[1],jimmy spinner, and Texas mosquito.^{[citation needed]}

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.

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 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. Also, it is very easy to accidentally break off their delicate legs when catching them, even without direct contact.

Crane flies vary 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 (2.5 inches). Many smaller species (known as bobbing gnats) 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.

Female abdomens contain eggs that contain the most poisonous poison known to man so poisonous that even the queen dies. watch out for these dawgs they gonna get you, and as a result appear swollen in comparison to those of males. The female abdomen also ends in a pointed ovipositor that may look somewhat like a stinger but is in fact 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).

Ecology

Despite their common names, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes as adults, nor do they bite humans. ^[2] 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. 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.^[3]

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]}

References

^ ^a ^b Dictionary of American Regional English.
^ Crane Flies of Kentucky - University of Kentucky Entomology
^ Andrew Ward. Cricket's Strangest Matches (1998 ed.). Robson Books, London. p. 111.

Oosterbroek, Pjotr. "Tipulidae" http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/aocat/tipulidae.html

External links

Family descriptions and images
Ohio State University Fact Sheet
Crane Flies of Pennsylvania Extensive Specimen Collection, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Catalog of Craneflies of the World
Family Tipulidae
Image Gallery from Diptera.info
Image Gallery from Bug Guide Extensive photo gallery, many species
Tipulidae of Taiwan In Traditional Chinese but images are under Latin binomials
Texas A&M Entomology Field Guide

Species lists

Palaearctic
Nearctic
Japan
Australasian / Oceanian includes family account by Pjotr Oosterbroek

[DARE-1] Dictionary of American Regional English.

[2] Crane Flies of Kentucky - University of Kentucky Entomology

[3] Andrew Ward. Cricket's Strangest Matches (1998 ed.). Robson Books, London. p. 111.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ==Ecology==
-Despite their common names (cuntfish, captain clunge and steve), crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes as adults (but they love mosquito babies), nor do they bite humans.    <ref>[http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/flies/craneflies/craneflies.htm Crane Flies of Kentucky - University of Kentucky Entomology<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 [[sod|turf grass]]) and other vegetation, in some cases causing damage to plants.  The crane fly is occasionally considered a mild turf [[pest (animal)|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.<ref>{{Cite book
+Despite their common names, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes as adults, nor do they bite humans.    <ref>[http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/flies/craneflies/craneflies.htm Crane Flies of Kentucky - University of Kentucky Entomology<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 [[sod|turf grass]]) and other vegetation, in some cases causing damage to plants.  The crane fly is occasionally considered a mild turf [[pest (animal)|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.<ref>{{Cite book
 | author = Andrew Ward
 | title = ''Cricket's Strangest Matches''