[235] Nephrotoma appendiculata, Spotted Crane Fly

[235] Nephrotoma appendiculata, Spotted Crane Fly

Introduction

Nephrotoma appendiculata, the Spotted Crane Fly (or Crane-fly or Cranefly), is a common type of crane fly with a yellow body marked in black.

The similar species Nephrotoma flavescens, Nephrotoma flavipalpis and Nephrotoma quadrifaria may also be seen in Britain, together with a few other species such as Nephrotoma crocata.

There are over two hundred species of Nephrotoma and about 15 000 species within the wider family Tipulidae also called crane flies. Most of these species do not have a more precise common name.

In the UK the large common crane flies are informally called ‘daddy-longlegs,’ a name used elsewhere for [258] the Cellar Spider and for Opiliones, Harvestmen. The larvae of crane flies are generally called leatherjackets (but definitely not as leather jackets!)

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Diptera

Suborder – Nematocera

Infraorder – Tipulomorpha

Superfamily – Tipuloidea

Family – Tipulidae (Crane Flies)

Subfamily – Tipulinae

Genus – Nephrotoma

Scientific Name – Nephrotoma appendiculata

Name

Crane flies in general are named from their long legs after [166] the Crane.

As for bee flies, entomologists prefer ‘crane fly’ to ‘crane-fly’ or ‘cranefly,’ because they are actually flies – whereas, for example butterflies, dragonflies, alderflies, caddisflies, sawflies and scorpionflies are not flies. There are exceptions to this rule, for example [333] Hoverflies and Horseflies.

Nephro-toma, from Ancient Greek means kidney-cut. As for many scientific names, I have no idea why this name was given to a crane fly. It is probably no more entitled to be described as having an appendix than any other species of Nephrotoma. (Flavescens means yellowish and quadrifaria means fourfold.)

Crane Flies

Crane Flies, Tipulidae, are included in the order Diptera of true flies. See [053] Bee Fly . They are a large group with 15 000 species in five hundred genera, of which we will only consider two – Nephrotoma and Tipula. They are characterized by long, slender bodies, long wings and long legs.

The insects spend most of their lives as larvae, known as leatherjackets, which are elongated and cylindrical in shape. Larvae live underground and are considered as agricultural and horticultural pests.

The adult female emerges from the pupal stage containing mature eggs and generally mates with a male almost immediately. Adults only live for two to three weeks. Many species do not eat as adults.

Most of the three hundred species found in the UK are only the size of mosquitos.

Nephrotoma

Nephrotoma species all have yellow bodies with black markings, about two centimetres in length. I will not attempt to differentiate between the species. The wings are transparent enough for the markings to remain visible through them.