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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Tipulomorpha » Crane Flies (Tipulidae) » Holorusia » Giant Western Crane Fly (Holorusia hespera)
Photo#244824
Large Crane Fly - Holorusia hespera - female
Copyright © 2008 Aaron Schusteff

Large Crane Fly - Holorusia hespera - Female
Near upper reaches of the Trinity River, south of Scott Mountain, Trinity County, California, USA
May 25, 2008
Size: Large! WL ~30mm?
This crane fly was found hanging out among horsetails, orchids, iris and grasses at a seep at ~3460' elevation in montane coniferous forest.

It was quite large...perhaps it's a Giant Crane Fly (Holorusia rubiginosa)? Hoping someone can give a definitive ID. The marbled-brown of its wings was very beautiful!

Images of this individual: tag all
Large Crane Fly - Holorusia hespera - female Large Crane Fly - Holorusia hespera - female Large Crane Fly - Holorusia hespera - female Large Crane Fly - Holorusia hespera - female
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Contributed by Aaron Schusteff on 15 December, 2008 - 12:45am
Last updated 15 December, 2008 - 1:25pm

Moved
Moved from Crane Flies.
… Chen Young, 15 December, 2008 - 10:37am login or register to post comments

Yes, it is a female
of the giant western crane fly. The current valid scientific name for this species is Holorusia hespera . - Chen
… Chen Young, 15 December, 2008 - 10:36am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks Chen!
Good to know the species ID, it was an impressive creature.

It seemed to me that this individual had stronger wing color/opaqueness than some other posts for H. hespera (rubiginosa). I was wondering if that could be attributed to normal variability or if it might indicate something else (e.g. recent emergence)? But perhaps it's more the lighting than anything intrinsic!

Thanks again for the confirmation, and name update.
… Aaron Schusteff, 15 December, 2008 - 1:24pm login or register to post comments

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