Hexatoma sculleni
Alexander, 1943
Hexatoma sculleni is a crane fly in the Limoniidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1943. It belongs to a of small to medium-sized crane flies characterized by reduced wing venation and relatively short legs compared to true crane flies (Tipulidae). The species is known from a limited geographic range in the western United States. Very few observations exist, suggesting it is either genuinely rare or underreported.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hexatoma sculleni: /hɛksəˈtoʊmə skulˈɛnaɪ/
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Identification
Members of Hexatoma can be distinguished from other Limoniidae by their distinctive wing venation patterns, particularly the reduced number of crossveins and the characteristic shape of the . Hexatoma sculleni specifically would require examination of male terminalia or detailed wing measurements for definitive identification. The is smaller than most Tipulidae crane flies, with a body length generally under 10 mm. are 16-segmented with verticils ( of hairs) present.
Distribution
Western United States, from Washington south to California. Records indicate presence in the Pacific coastal states with potential extension into adjacent regions.
Similar Taxa
- Hexatoma (Eriocera) speciesThe Catalogue of Life places H. sculleni within subgenus Eriocera, indicating close morphological relationship with other members of this subgenus. Eriocera share reduced palps and characteristic male genitalic structures.
- Tipulidae (true crane flies)Superficially similar in overall body plan but distinguished by Hexatoma's smaller size, reduced wing venation, and shorter legs. Tipulidae typically have more complex wing venation with additional crossveins and longer, more fragile legs.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Catalogue of Life lists this as a synonym under 'Hexatoma (Eriocera) sculleni', indicating ongoing taxonomic discussion about subgeneric placement within Hexatoma. The subgenus Eriocera was historically treated as a separate .
Data scarcity
Only 4 observations recorded in iNaturalist as of source date, and no Wikipedia summary exists. This extreme data limitation reflects either genuine rarity, cryptic habits, or lack of collector attention to small limoniid crane flies in its range.