Common crane flies
(Tipula spp.)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview
Tipula is a very common, very widespread, and very large genus of crane flies known as common crane flies. It occurs worldwide on every continent except Antarctica. There are about 2,400 Tipula species in 40 subgenera worldwide, more than 480 species in 27 subgenera in North America north of Mexico, and at least 38 species in 11 subgenera in Minnesota.
Common crane flies are found in humid areas with wet ground, often near streams or lakes.
Swarms of males fly above a bush or treetop in a mating “dance”. When a male seizes a female, the pair lands on foliage to mate.
The larvae feed on decaying vegetation, fungi, roots, foliage, and occasionally animal matter. Adults are short-lived and do not feed. They live just a few days, long enough to mate and lay eggs..
Description
Common crane fly adults are 5⁄16″ to 2 9⁄16″ (8 to 65 mm) in length and have a wingspan of up to 3″ (75 cm). However, most species are no more than 1″ (25 mm) long. They are usually brown or grayish-brown, or dull yellow. The body is long and slender, the legs are very long and thread-like, and the overall appearance is of a large mosquito.
The antennae are short and have 13 segments. Each segment has a whorl of hairs at the base.
The thorax has a deep V-shaped groove above.
The wings are clear or tinted brownish. The discal cell is present and cell 4 is petiolate. The radial sector (Rs) vein is usually long, the subcostal (Sc) vein ends far from the base of the Rs vein, and the M3 vein rises from the M4 vein.
Distribution |
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Sources Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (Bell Herbarium) shows the genus Tipula occurring in every county in Minnesota. However, it lists the genus Tipula in the family Cecidomyiidae (gall midges and wood midges). The map at left does not include Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas records. |
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| 5/14/2024 | ||
Taxonomy
Order
Suborder
Nematocera
Infraorder
Superfamily
Tipuloidea (typical crane flies)
Family
Subfamily
Subordinate Taxa
subgenus Acutipula 
subgenus Arctotipula
subgenus Bellardina
subgenus Beringotipula
subgenus Hesperotipula
subgenus Labiotipula
subgenus Lindnerina
subgenus Lunatipula
subgenus Nippotipula
subgenus Nobilotipula
subgenus Odonatisca
subgenus Platytipula
subgenus Savtshenkia
subgenus Schummelia
subgenus Sinotipula
subgenus Tipula (European Crane Flies)
subgenus Trichotipula
subgenus Triplicitipula
subgenus Vestiplex
subgenus Yamatotipula
Synonyms
Adetus
Gedanica
Nippotipula
Platytipula
Savtshenkia
Succinica
Tigula
Tipula
Yamatotipula
Common Names
common crane flies
Visitor Photos
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Alfredo Colon |
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Yvonne |
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Saw that these little critters are considered rare in MN. I saw it before I even had my coffee, immediately out my front door on the stucco. Scared me good. 7:26am May 13, 2024. |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
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Slideshows
Visitor Videos
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Other Videos
Tipula larvae
Solito de Solis
Two giant mosquitoes joined together - Tipula
VIKING PRODUCTIONS
Visitor Sightings
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Alfredo Colon
6/12/2024
Location: Albany, NY
Yvonne
5/13/2024
Location: 13834 Essex Trail, Woodwinds Neighborhood, Apple Valley, MN
Alfredo Colon
6/1/2021
Location: Woodbury, MN
Alfredo Colon
September 2019
Location: Woodbury, MN
Alfredo Colon
Summer 2018
Location: Woodbury, MN
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
