Morphology
Close-up of the head of a crane-fly (Nephrotoma quadrifaria). Notice the mouth parts, the compound eyes and the antennae
In appearance crane flies seem long and gangly, with very long legs, and a long slender abdomen. 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. Also, it is very easy to accidentally break off their delicate legs when catching them, even without direct contact.[citation needed]
Crane flies vary in size, with temperate species ranging from 2 mm up to 60 mm, while tropical species have been recorded at over 100 mm. The Giant Crane Fly (Holorusia rubiginosa) of the western United States can reach 38 mm (1.5 inches). Some Tipula species are 64 mm (2.5 inches). Many smaller species (known as bobbing gnats) are mosquito-sized, but they can be distinguished from mosquitoes by the V-shaped suture on the thorax, non-piercing 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 in fact 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
Despite their common names, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes as adults, nor do they bite humans. 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.
Little is known of the juvenile biology of many crane fly species. 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.
The long legs are an adaptation that may allow the fly to alight in grassy places.[citation needed]
Crane flies are a food source for many birds. They are also susceptible to fungal infections and are a food source for many other insects.[citation needed]
Genera
Subfamily Ctenophorinae
Ctenophora Meigen, 1803
Dictenidia Brulle, 1833
Phoroctenia Coquillett, 1910
Pselliophora Osten Sacken, 1887
Tanyptera Latreille, 1804
Subfamily Dolichopezinae
Dolichopeza Curtis, 1825
Subfamily Tipulinae
Acracantha Skuse, 1890
Angarotipula Savchenko, 1961
Austrotipula Alexander, 1920
Brachypremna Osten Sacken, 1887
Brithura Edwards, 1916
Clytocosmus Skuse, 1890
Elnoretta Alexander, 1929
Euvaldiviana Alexander, 1981
Goniotipula Alexander, 1921
Holorusia Loew, 1863
Hovapeza Alexander, 1951
Hovatipula Alexander, 1955
Idiotipula Alexander, 1921
Indotipula Edwards, 1931
Ischnotoma Skuse, 1890
Keiseromyia Alexander, 1963
Leptotarsus Guerin-Meneville, 1831
Macgregoromyia Alexander, 1929
Megistocera Wiedemann, 1828
Nephrotoma Meigen, 1803
Nigrotipula Hudson & Vane-Wright, 1969
Ozodicera Macquart, 1834
Platyphasia Skuse, 1890
Prionocera Loew, 1844
Prionota van der Wulp, 1885
Ptilogyna Westwood, 1835
Scamboneura Osten Sacken, 1882
Sphaerionotus de Meijere, 1919
Tipula Linnaeus, 1758, 1758
Tipulodina Enderlein, 1912
Valdiviana Alexander, 1929
Zelandotipula Alexander, 1922
Misconceptions
Main article: Pholcidae #Misconceptions
An urban legend states that the daddy long-legs spider has the most potent venom of any spider; this same legend is attributed to crane flies where they commonly go by the name “daddy long-legs” (principally in the United Kingdom). In fact, the crane fly is innocuous, while the spider’s venom is harmless to humans because of the small dosage. The commonly confused harvestman, also known as daddy long-legs but which isn’t a spider, is also not venomous.
See also
Crane fly orchid (Tipularia discolor)
References
^ a b Dictionary of American Regional English. http://books.google.com/books?id=vAr2T4Bh7nkC&pg=PA620&lpg=PA620&dq=gollywhopper+-wikipedia+%22crane+fly%22&source=bl&ots=yO7kfvT_wr&sig=br834TNyyx2l1eBkRPiypAZxpxg&hl=en&ei=OiGmSZG6OJqqtQPMrqT3Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA620,M1. 
^ Crane Flies of Kentucky – University of Kentucky Entomology
^ Andrew Ward. Cricket’s Strangest Matches (1998 ed.). Robson Books, London. p. 111. 
External links
Look up crane fly in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tipulidae
Wikispecies has information related to: Tipulidae
Delta-Intkey.com, Family descriptions and images
Ohioline.osu.edu, Ohio State University Fact Sheet
IZ.carnegiemnh.org, Crane Flies of Pennsylvania, Extensive Specimen Collection, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
NLBIF.eti.uva.nl, Catalog of Craneflies of the World
Diptera.info, Image Gallery
BugGuide.bet, photo gallery, many species
Gaga.jes.mlc.edu.tw, Tipulidae of Taiwan (Chinese), with images under Latin binomials
Insects.tamu.edu, Texas A&M Entomology Field Guide
Species lists
Faunaeur.org, Palaearctic
Nearctica.com, Nearctic
Konchudb.agr.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp, Japan
Oosterbroek, Pjotr, HBS.Bishopmuseum.org, “Tipulidae”
Categories: Flies | Insect families | TipulidaeHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from July 2009 | Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009 | Articles with unsourced statements from March 2008 | Articles with unsourced statements from May 2008

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