The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

MBotham · 2009-10-23 14:17:53

I am new to the forum and know very little about Diptera i am sorry to confess. I am a Lepidopterist and run a moth trap in my garden almost every night. recently i have noticed a large number of small craneflies around my trap, a good number of which are wingless (have very short vestigual wings). I've done a little bit of searching and not come up with the species yet and wondered if anyone could tell me what they are most likely to be and also whether it is only the females that are wingless as all those I have found without wings are females and all the winged individuals seem to be males, but could just be a different species. All measure between 15-20mm in body.

Many thanks and best wishes, Marc

Judy Webb · 2009-10-23 23:56:54

I'm not a cranefly expert, but Tipula pagana has wingless (actually reduced wing) females and males that are fully winged. They are emerging in large numbers at the moment from the grassy lawns around my house. The males are conspicuous in the day time sitting on the shaded walls of the house. They have very long legs and the wings are folded neatly over their abdomens. Alan Stubbs tells me the larvae feed on moss in lawns so perhaps you have a very mossy lawn? There are other winged male craneflies out at the moment, so one really needs to key any male out, unfortunately.

Judy

MBotham · 2009-10-26 15:00:08

This sounds very much like them. We do have an extremely mossy garden and these craneflies are emerging in great numbers. I've found lots of mating pairs as well. Many thanks for your response, best wishes, Marc

Judy Webb · 2009-10-28 00:32:18

I will post photos of male and female T pagana in the Gallery, so have a look.
Judy

The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

#1 2009-10-23 14:17:53

Wingless craneflies

#2 2009-10-23 23:56:54

Re: Wingless craneflies

#3 2009-10-26 15:00:08

Re: Wingless craneflies

#4 2009-10-28 00:32:18

Re: Wingless craneflies

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