Genus Tipula

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Print References · Works Cited

Long-legged spring crane fly - Tipula rossmani

Which cranefly, please? - Tipula tricolor - female

Insect #4 - Tipula longiventris - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))

Infraorder Tipulomorpha

Family Tipulidae (Crane Flies)

Genus Tipula

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Tipula Linnaeus, 1758

Explanation of Names

From Latin tipula (or tippula) a water spider (1) (2). (Nettleship, 1889, Contributions to Latin Lexicography--via Googlebooks--gives meaning of tippula as "water fly", quoting original Latin sources.)

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists about 473 species.

Arnett, p. 851, lists 27 subgenera. (3)

Size

Typically 10-25 mm

Identification

Large craneflies, and a huge genus in terms of species. Technical characters are no doubt needed for identification. A few species in this large genus are distinctively marked.

Print References

Arnett, p. 851, fig. 29.12--T. trivittata (3)

Borror, entry for tipula (1)

The Century Dictionary, entry for Tipula (2)

Salsbury pp. 379-380, photos T. abdominalis, dorsimacula, furca, triplex (4)

Swan and Papp, pp. 585-586, figs. 1252-1256, illustrates and describes several species. (5)

Works Cited

1.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms By Donald J. Borror

2.	The Century Dictionary: an encyclopedic lexicon of the English language

3.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

4.	Insects in Kansas By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White

5.	The Common Insects of North America By Lester A. Swan, Charles S. Papp

Contributed by Cotinis on 7 February, 2005 - 8:00pm
Last updated 25 August, 2009 - 3:34pm

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