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A crane fly is an insect in the family Tipulidae. Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from 2–60 mm (0.079–2.4 in) though tropical species may exceed 100 mm (3.9 in). Up until recently, all of the members of the families Cylindrotomidae, Limoniidae, and Pediciidae were included within Tipulidae (at the rank of subfamily); they all share the same common names, and similar biology and morphology. Crane flies are commonly mistaken as "giant mosquitoes".

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia they are commonly referred to as daddy longlegs or dandy longlegs,^[1] but this name can also refer to two unrelated arthropods: members of the arachnid order Opiliones (especially in the United States and Canada) and the cellar spider Pholcidae (especially in Australia). The larva of the European crane fly is commonly known as a leatherjacket. These larvae can cause damage to lawns by feeding on the roots of grass plants.

Numerous other common names have been applied to the crane fly, many of them more or less regional, including mosquito hawk, mosquito eater (or skeeter eater), gallinipper, may fly (or mayfly)^[2] gollywhomper and whapper.^[2]

At least 4,250 species of crane flies have been described, most of them (75%) by the specialist Charles Paul Alexander, though he described many more that are now in families other than Tipulidae.

Morphology[edit]

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Close-up of the head of a crane fly: notice the mouth parts, the compound eyes and the antennae

Crane flies have very long legs and long slender abdomens. The wings are often held out when at rest, making the large halteres easily visible. Unlike most flies, crane flies are weak and poor fliers with a tendency to "wobble" in unpredictable patterns during flight, and they can be caught without much effort.

Crane flies vary in size, with temperate species ranging from 2 to 60 mm (0.079 to 2.4 in), while tropical species have been recorded at over 100 mm (3.9 in). The giant crane fly (Holorusia rubiginosa) of the western United States can reach 38 mm (1.5 in). Some Tipula species are 64 mm (2.5 in). Many smaller species are mosquito-sized, but they can be distinguished from mosquitoes by the V-shaped suture on the thorax, nonpiercing mouthparts, and a lack of scales on the wing veins.

Female abdomens contain eggs, and as a result appear swollen in comparison to those of males. The female abdomen also ends in a pointed ovipositor that may look somewhat like a stinger, but is completely harmless.

Adult mouthparts may occur on the end of the crane fly's long face, which is sometimes called a snout or a short rostrum.

Larvae have a distinct head capsule, and their abdominal segments often have long fleshy projections surrounding the posterior spiracles (almost like tentacles).

Ecology[edit]

Close-up of the thorax of a crane fly

Despite their common names, as adults, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes, nor do they bite humans. Some larval crane flies are predatory and may occasionally eat mosquito larvae.^[3] Adult crane flies feed on nectar or they do not feed at all. Once they become adults, most crane fly species exist as adults only to mate and die. Their larvae, called "leatherjackets", "leatherbacks", "leatherback bugs" or "leatherjacket slugs" because of the way they move, consume roots (such as those of turf grass) and other vegetation, in some cases causing damage to plants. The crane fly is occasionally considered a mild turf pest in some areas. In 1935, Lord's Cricket Ground in London was among the venues affected by leatherjackets: several thousand were collected by ground staff and burned, because they caused bald patches on the wicket and the pitch took unaccustomed spin for much of the season.^[4]

The larvae of less than 2% of the species have been described. Of those that have been described, many prefer moist environments, and some leatherjackets are aquatic.

Genera[edit]

Crane fly, with a pair of halteres visible behind the wings as appendages, about as long as the animal's antennae, with knobs on the end

See also[edit]

• Tipularia discolor, the crane fly orchid

References[edit]