Species Tipula abdominalis - Giant Crane Fly

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Life Cycle · See Also · Internet References

Crane Fly - Tipula genus? - Tipula abdominalis

Long-legged winged insect NW PA - Tipula abdominalis

giant crane fly - Tipula abdominalis - female

Crane Fly - Tipula abdominalis - male - female

Large crane fly - Tipula abdominalis - male

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

No Taxon (subgenus Nippotipula)

Species abdominalis (Giant Crane Fly)

Size

female max. body length at least 45 mm; max. wing length at least 30 mm; max. legspan (front to back) at least 115 mm

male is usually smaller

Identification

large size coupled with black velvety patches on thorax is diagnostic feature

Range

eastern North America

Habitat

adults often attracted to light

Season

adults fly from May to October

Life Cycle

two generations per year (usually May/June and September/October)

See Also

female Tipula (Vestiplex) longiventris is almost as large but lacks black thoracic patches and has only one generation per year (in May and June)

Internet References

adult image and information on biology, life history, etc. (Barbara Strnadova, New York)

adult image (Bill Johnson, Minnesota)

Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 21 July, 2005 - 12:50pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod
Last updated 15 January, 2007 - 5:37pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version