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Photo#638394
Phantom Crane Fly - Bittacomorpha clavipes - female

Phantom Crane Fly - Bittacomorpha clavipes - Female
Newport near Banning Park, New Castle County, Delaware, USA
May 7, 2012
Found on the siding in front of the house. Don't know what it was doing there, the wet stuff is out back.

Also, no Crane Flies were monochromatized during the taking of this picture. And, I get to fill Delaware in on the map. That is *so* neat! I tell you folks, I feel like a little kid again with my coloring book and crayons, feeling real pleased with myself that I was able to stay within the lines. Very satisfying. The fact that it didn't take me 80+ hours to arrive at this ID is also remarkable.

Behavior update 5/8/12: Wanted to say that this one acted strikinly differently from the other big Crane Flies.
The others are content to stay put and let me get close and I have to touch them for them to fly off.
This one fluttered as I approached but settled down. At a closer distance it actually started walking, and if I got too close
(within a few inches) it would fly and move a couple feet, then settle down again.
Sorry if this is old news, but based on my vast experience of 5 or so Crane Flies, it surprised me.

Picture update: Also changed the picture so it shows up a little better now. Same picture, just lightened.

high
five!

 
wide
smile!

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