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Photo#447505
Crane Fly - Limonia communis - female

Crane Fly - Limonia communis - Female
Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, USA
August 26, 2010
Size: ~12 mm
This crane fly was feeding on garlic blossoms in a garden at dusk. Identified to Tipulomorpha via BugGuide images and comments. I think I count 14 antennae segments, which I believe places it in Limoniidae. Also, I think the lateral view shows a short ovipositor.

Images of this individual: tag all
Crane Fly - Limonia communis - female Crane Fly - Limonia communis - female Crane Fly - Limonia communis - female

Moved
Moved from Tipulomorpha.

My non-expert opinion:
The long rostrum (the beak, for lack of a better word) would make it Toxorhina or Elephantomyia I think. I'm partial to the latter because the end of the abdomen does not stick out beyond the tips of the wings, and Elephantomyia seems to have the appearance of two bumps on the thorax below the "v" suture.

I used the Carnegie pages to come to this conclusion: http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/limoniinae.htm

An expert will see this eventually.

 
Thanks Erick
Based on that link and some comments on BugGuide, I also found Limonia (Geranomyia) communis. This fly was demonstrating a behavior as described. Each time it would land on a blossum, it would bob its head up and down very rapidly a number of times.

 
I believe you're right.
I browse that site fairly often, but I haven't read it all thoroughly.
I'm glad I commented on your photo, because you made me aware of this Limonia I'd otherwise overlooked. How great is that? Thanks.

 
This one is
a female of Limonia communis . - Chen

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