Giant Crane Fly (NPS National Capital Region True Flies)

Giant Crane Fly

Tipula abdominalis

General description ⁵

The adult of this species has a brownish gray thorax with a velvety black area on the dorsal side. The abdomen is orange with a black line on the side, and the posterior end of the abdomen is black. The wings are semitransparent with several brown areas along the front edge. The females reach about 40 mm in size, while the males are slightly smaller. Larvae are large, brown, and worm-like, with many tubercles over the body; finger-like lobes and papillae are present at the posterior end of the larva.

Morphology ⁶

Thorax: brownish gray thorax with a velvety black area on the dorsal side

Wing: The wings are semitransparent with several brown areas along the front edge.

Male abdomen: The abdomen is orange with a black line on the side, and the posterior end of the abdomen is black.

Larva: Larvae are large, brown, and worm-like, with many tubercles over the body; finger-like lobes and papillae are present at the posterior end of the larva; metapneustic.

Taxon biology ⁷

The larvae of this species are aquatic and among the largest and most common aquatic invertebrates in streams of wooded areas, and are sought out as bait for fish. Larvae feed on decomposing leaves, thus playing an important role of breaking down organic matter in the water. Two generations occur, more numerous in late summer than in spring.

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Giant Crane Fly

General description 5

Morphology 6

Taxon biology 7