Crane Fly

Order: Diptera

Family: Tipulidae

Identifying Characteristics:

-Crane flies are large tan-colored fragile flies with long legs

-Larval forms of crane flies are grey-brown cylindrical larvae which may bear fleshy lobes on the (posterior) end. Occasionally, the segments towards the end of the body can be greatly expanded.

- Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from 2–60 millimetres (0.079–2.4 in)

Special Adaptations:

-Larvae are often encountered under layers of decomposing leaves in wet locations such as ditch banks in December and January. Adults emerge in February and March.

- Larvae have chewing mouthparts. Crane fly larvae feed primarily on decomposing organic matter. Adults do not feed.

-They commonly occur in moist environments such as woodlands, streams and flood plains although some species inhabit open fields, dry rangeland and even desert environments

-In compost piles, they often occur on the soil surface below the pile of decaying vegetation. Some species have been reported to feed on roots of forage crops, turf grasses and seedling field crops.

-Despite their common names, as adults, 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; once they become adults, most crane fly species exist as adults only to mate and die.