Crane fly

Taxobox
name = Crane fly

image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Nephrotoma appendiculata" (Spotted Crane-fly)

---

image2_width = 250px
image2_caption = larva (leatherjacket)
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota|
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Nematocera
infraordo = Tipulomorpha
superfamilia = Tipuloidea
familia = Tipulidae
familia_authority = Latreille, 1802
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "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, 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, gollywhopper, and jimmy spinner.

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 (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 preyFact|date=July 2007.

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.

Female abdomens contain eggs, 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. Some larval crane flies may on occasion feed on mosquito larvae. [ [http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/flies/craneflies/craneflies.htm Crane Flies of Kentucky - University of Kentucky Entomology ] ] 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. [Cite book
author = Andrew Ward
title = "Cricket's Strangest Matches"
edition = 1998
publisher = Robson Books, London
page = p111]

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.Fact|date=March 2008

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.Fact|date=May 2008

Misconceptions

Venom

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.

ee also

* Crane fly orchid ("Tipularia discolor")

References

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

External links

* [http://delta-intkey.com/britin/dip/www/tipulida.htm Family descriptions and images]
* [http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2129.html Ohio State University Fact Sheet]
* [http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly Crane Flies of Pennsylvania] Extensive Specimen Collection, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
* [http://cirrusimage.com/flies_crane.htm Crane Fly "Tipula (Platytipula) paterifera"] Diagnostic closeup photos and information
* [http://cirrusimage.com/flies_crane_tipula_dorsimacula.htm Crane Fly "Tipula dorsimacula"] Reference photographs of female ovipositing
* [http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/ccw/ Catalog of Craneflies of the World]
* [http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/aocat/tipulidae.html Family Tipulidae]
* [http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?album_id=54 Image Gallery from Diptera.info]
* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/183/bgimage Image Gallery from Bug Guide] Extensive photo gallery, many species
* [http://gaga.jes.mlc.edu.tw/tipulidae/tipulidae.htm Tipulidae of Taiwan] In Traditional Chinese but images are under Latin binomials]
* [http://www.rolawndirect.co.uk/turf_pest_and_disease_control-leather_jackets.html Grass damage] Damage caused to grass by Crane Fly larvae
* [http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg215.html/ Texas A&M Entomology Field Guide]

pecies lists

* [http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=11636 Palaearctic]
* [http://www.nearctica.com/nomina/diptera/dipb-c.htm#anchor443206 Nearctic]
* [http://konchudb.agr.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp/mokuroku/ Japan]
* [http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/aocat/tipulidae.html Australasian / Oceanian] includes family account by Pjotr Oosterbroek