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Photo#409240
Crane fly maggot  - Nephrocerus

Crane fly maggot - Nephrocerus
Perry County, Pennsylvania, USA
June 11, 2010
Size: 4 mm
I squashed a crane fly to prepare for my wasps, and all of a sudden this thing bust out. No harm for me, because the maggot made a good meal for another wasp colony

Images of this individual: tag all
Crane fly maggot  - Nephrocerus Crane fly maggot  - Nephrocerus

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

I had that a few years ago an
I had that a few years ago and I was wondering what it is... Now I know it is the larvae of a Pipunculidae! The genus is Nephrocerus.
Do you have a pic of the Tipulidae - would be another of the few known host records!

 
Thanks for your help!
I should have photographed the crane fly itself, but didn't and it's too late :(

 
May I use your photo in a publication?
Hello,

I am writing a book chapter on pipunculids for a leafhopper book. Could I possibly use your photo for the book (will full credit to you of course)? It's a great photo and would be a nice addition. If you agree, please contact me directly at jhskevington@gmail.com. I will need a higher resolution shot for printing if you agree.

Thanks for considering my request.

By the way, I posted an adult Nephrocerus shot on bugguide today so that you can see what the adults look like.

Jeff

 
At least now you know that yo
At least now you know that you found a very cool Pipunculid fly (we have no pics of the adults on bugguide!)Here is a pic of the Parasite:
http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/introduction.htm

 
Cool
And to think that after the hundreds of these things I have killed for my wasps over the years, this is the first time I have found one of these parasites. Must not be very wide spread. I can certainly see where they get the common name 'big headed fly'!

 
This is what Chen Young wrote
This is what Chen Young wrote about the host - he is really good!
"Yes, definitely a Nephrocerus larva, and the crane fly looks like a female Tipula (Lunatipula) mallochi or submaculata."

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