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Photo#597211
Chionea! Wingless Cranefly- Thanksgiving Day - Chionea scita - female

Chionea! Wingless Cranefly- Thanksgiving Day - Chionea scita - Female
Wilton, Inland Barrens, Saratoga County, New York, USA
November 24, 2011
Finally an in-situ image of a Chionea! (Prob. C. scita based on antennae segment number). Last year, I had collected one pair off my house at night. This year, dying to get a natural shot! Dusting of snow yesterday, Thanksgiving day, 33 degrees, 9:30 am, female Chionea! Friggin' the coolest bug I've seen maybe ever, and one of the most mysterious ones as well! Thanks for the small things :0)

Moved
Moved from Chionea.

 
Thanks John Carr
Second female found this morning, no male yet. Some observations just for the record, and only anecdotal for sake of interest:

1) C. scita seems to be a November emergent in Upstate NY, in the inland barrens.
2) Light snow falls (not over 3 inches) with temps around 32 seem to be conducive to them moving- balmy conditions, with temps on the rise.
3) I have found them in the middle of the night, or before 10:30 am.
4) They seem to be associated with a pristine area with natural spring wetlands.
5) They seem to move from one wetland to the other, my house being the "drift" fence in between.
6) They lived at least up to 20 days in my study last year.
7) The literature allures to C. scita potentially having some relationship with rodent burrows and/or feces (larval development). My area is strewn with chipmunk, vole and deer mouse galleries.
8) They do not (at least here)emerge in groups. So pheromones may be at work to get them together?
9) During the 20 days I housed them last year, they mated often.
10) They were never seen feeding on anything.
11) If eggs were laid in my enclosure, they were never seen, and larvae were never seen.

K

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

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