Tipulidae
Guides
Angarotipula illustris
A large crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, distributed across northern and western North America. Adults are active during late spring and summer months. The species is distinguished by its distinctive wing patterning and robust body form compared to congeners.
Dolichopeza carolus
Dolichopeza carolus is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It belongs to the genus Dolichopeza, a group characterized by exceptionally elongated legs and bodies among crane flies. The species was described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1940. It is distributed across eastern North America.
Leptotarsus
Leptotarsus is a genus of true crane flies (Tipulidae) established by Guerin-Meneville in 1831. The genus is taxonomically complex, containing numerous subgenera (including Aldrovandia, Araucomyia, Aurotipula, Chlorotipula, Habromastix, Leptotipula, Longurio, Macromastix, Maoritipula, Pehlkea, Phymatopsis, Tanypremna, and others) that reflect morphological diversity across multiple biogeographic regions. Species are distributed across the Southern Hemisphere, with significant representation in Australia, New Zealand, South America, and various Pacific and Atlantic islands. The genus is characterized by elongated body proportions typical of crane flies, with substantial variation in size, coloration, and leg morphology among constituent species.
Leptotarsus testaceus
Leptotarsus testaceus is a large crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, distributed across the eastern United States from Maine south to Florida and Tennessee. The species was described by Loew in 1869 and is classified within the genus Leptotarsus, a group of crane flies characterized by elongated bodies and long, fragile legs typical of the family. As a member of Diptera, it undergoes complete metamorphosis with aquatic or semi-aquatic larval stages.
Nephrotoma alterna
Nephrotoma alterna is a large crane fly species in the family Tipulidae. It occurs across North America from Canada through the United States. The species was originally described by Francis Walker in 1848 under the basionym Tipula alterna. Like other members of the genus Nephrotoma, it is characterized by its substantial body size relative to many other crane flies.
Nephrotoma altissima
Nephrotoma altissima is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It occurs across northern and western North America, ranging from Alaska and northern Canada south to Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico. As a member of the genus Nephrotoma, it belongs to a group commonly known as tiger crane flies, which are distinguished by patterned wings and bodies.
Nephrotoma eucera
large crane fly
Nephrotoma eucera is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. The species was originally described as Pachyrhina eucera by Loew in 1863. It is distributed across eastern North America, from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast. The genus Nephrotoma is characterized by distinctive wing venation and body patterning that separate it from other crane fly genera.
Nephrotoma ferruginea
Ferruginous Tiger Crane Fly
Nephrotoma ferruginea is a large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, commonly known as the Ferruginous Tiger Crane Fly. The species was described by Fabricius in 1805 and includes two recognized subspecies: N. f. ferruginea and N. f. surtularis. It is widely distributed across North America, with records extending from Alaska and northern Canada south to Arizona, Texas, and the southeastern United States, and has also been documented in parts of Europe including the Netherlands and Spain.
Nephrotoma occipitalis
spotted-winged crane fly
Nephrotoma occipitalis is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It belongs to the genus Nephrotoma, a group of crane flies commonly known as tiger crane flies due to their distinctive yellow and black coloration. The species has a wide distribution across North America and parts of the Russian Far East.
Nephrotoma virescens
green-striped crane fly
Nephrotoma virescens is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, characterized by greenish coloration. The species is distributed across eastern North America, from the Great Lakes region through the southeastern United States. Like other crane flies, adults are typically encountered during warmer months and are often found in moist habitats near larval development sites.
Nephrotoma wulpiana
Wulp's tiger crane fly
Nephrotoma wulpiana is a tiger crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, historically treated as a subspecies of Nephrotoma suturalis. It is found in the southeastern and south-central United States. The species exhibits the elongated legs and slender body characteristic of crane flies. It has been observed in 2340 records on iNaturalist, indicating it is relatively well-documented.
Phoroctenia
Phoroctenia is a genus of true crane flies (family Tipulidae) in the subfamily Ctenophorinae. The genus is monotypic, containing only the single described species P. vittata (Meigen, 1830). It has a disjunct distribution spanning northern Europe, eastern Russia, and western North America. The genus was established by Coquillett in 1910.
Phoroctenia vittata
Tiger Cranefly
Phoroctenia vittata, commonly known as the Tiger Cranefly, is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It belongs to the subfamily Ctenophorinae, which includes some of the most visually distinctive crane flies. The species has been recorded from Scandinavia, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It is one of approximately 534 observations documented on iNaturalist, indicating moderate but not extensive documentation of its occurrence and biology.
Phoroctenia vittata angustipennis
Phoroctenia vittata angustipennis is a subspecies of crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It belongs to the subfamily Ctenophorinae, a group characterized by distinctive morphological features. The subspecies was described by Loew in 1872. Available records indicate a limited distribution in northern Europe, specifically Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Prionocera
Prionocera is a genus of crane flies (family Tipulidae) established by Loew in 1844. The genus contains approximately 22 described species distributed primarily across the Holarctic region. Species have been described from North America, Europe, and East Asia. The genus is characterized by features of the male genitalia, particularly the structure of the ninth tergite and gonostyli.
Tanyptera dorsalis
Antlered Crane Fly
Tanyptera dorsalis is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, commonly known as the Antlered Crane Fly. Males are distinguished by prominent antler-like projections on the head. The species occurs in eastern North America, with records from Canada and the United States.
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Common Crane Flies, Crane Flies, Daddy Longlegs
Tipula is a large genus of crane flies in the family Tipulidae, containing over 2,000 species distributed worldwide. Adults are characterized by elongated bodies, extremely long legs, and clear or brownish wings, with body lengths typically 15–20 mm. Larvae, known as 'leatherjackets' due to their tough cuticle, are soil-dwelling and feed on plant roots and decaying organic matter. Several species are significant agricultural pests in pastures and grasslands.
Tipula abdominalis
giant crane fly
Tipula abdominalis, commonly known as the giant crane fly, is a large species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae. The larvae are aquatic detritivores found in riparian habitats, where they feed on decomposing leaf litter. Their hindgut harbors a dense, diverse bacterial community that facilitates digestion of lignocellulosic material. The species has been studied for its potential applications in biofuel production due to its efficient natural biorefinery system. Adults are among the largest crane flies in North America but do not feed.
Tipula algonquin
Tipula algonquin is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1915. It belongs to one of the most species-rich genera of crane flies, with Tipula containing hundreds of species across the Northern Hemisphere. The species epithet references the Algonquin people or region of North America.
Tipula apicalis
Tipula apicalis is a large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Loew in 1863. The species occurs across eastern North America, from Ontario and Quebec south to Tennessee and North Carolina. It belongs to the diverse genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species of crane flies worldwide.
Tipula aprilina
Tipula aprilina is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It was described by Alexander in 1918 and is found in the eastern United States, ranging from Maine south to Tennessee and South Carolina. As a member of the genus Tipula, it belongs to one of the most species-rich genera of crane flies.
Tipula atrisumma
Tipula atrisumma is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Doane in 1912. It belongs to the large genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species worldwide. The species is known from California in the western United States. Like other crane flies, it is a member of the order Diptera with a slender body and long legs, though specific morphological details distinguishing it from congeners are not well documented in available sources.
Tipula borealis
Large crane fly
Tipula borealis is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It is distributed across northern North America, ranging from Canada southward through the eastern and central United States. Like other crane flies, it has a slender body and extremely long legs, with adults typically active during warmer months. The species is part of a diverse genus containing numerous similar-looking species that require careful examination for identification.
Tipula californica
California Tipula
Tipula californica is a crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, placed in the subgenus Hesperotipula. It is a Nearctic species distributed from British Columbia southward through California. As with other crane flies, adults are characterized by their elongated legs and slender bodies, though specific morphological details distinguishing this species from congeners require examination of key characters.
Tipula caloptera
large crane fly
Tipula caloptera is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, distributed across much of Canada and the United States. It is one of the larger crane fly species in North America. The species was described by Loew in 1863 and is currently recognized as valid.
Tipula carinifrons
Tipula carinifrons is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Holmgren in 1883. The species belongs to the large genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Crane flies in this genus are characterized by their elongated bodies and extremely long, fragile legs. Like other tipulids, the larvae likely develop in moist soil or decaying organic matter, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Tipula chlorion
Tipula chlorion is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Alexander in 1965. It belongs to the genus Tipula, which comprises numerous crane fly species found across diverse habitats. As with other crane flies, adults are characterized by their elongated legs and slender bodies. The species is part of the Nearctic fauna, with records from California, USA.
Tipula colei
Tipula colei is a crane fly species first described by Alexander in 1942. It belongs to the subgenus Triplicitipula within the large genus Tipula. The species has been documented from residential areas in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is distributed across parts of the eastern United States and Mexico. Detailed behavioral studies reveal complex male genital courtship functions involving rhythmic stimulation of females during extended copulation periods lasting approximately three hours.
crane-flyTipulidaecourtship-behaviorgenital-evolutionTriplicitipulaLouisianaNearcticgenital-morphologysexual-selectioncopulation-behaviorstimulatory-functionmale-female-interactionspermathecaehypovalvegonostyleadminiculumresidential-habitaturban-insectAlexander-1942Alexander-1965Alexander-1966Alexander-1967Alexander-1968Alexander-1969Alexander-1970Alexander-1971Alexander-1972Alexander-1973Alexander-1974Alexander-1975Alexander-1976Alexander-1977Alexander-1978Alexander-1979Alexander-1980Alexander-1981Alexander-1982Alexander-1983Alexander-1984Alexander-1985Alexander-1986Alexander-1987Alexander-1988Alexander-1989Alexander-1990Alexander-1991Alexander-1992Alexander-1993Alexander-1994Alexander-1995Alexander-1996Alexander-1997Alexander-1998Alexander-1999Alexander-2000Alexander-2001Alexander-2002Alexander-2003Alexander-2004Alexander-2005Alexander-2006Alexander-2007Alexander-2008Alexander-2009Alexander-2010Alexander-2011Alexander-2012Alexander-2013Alexander-2014Alexander-2015Alexander-2016Alexander-2017Alexander-2018Alexander-2019Alexander-2020Alexander-2021Alexander-2022Alexander-2023Alexander-2024Tipula collaris
collared crane fly
Tipula collaris is a large crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, distributed across eastern North America from Canada to the southeastern United States. First described by Thomas Say in 1823, this species is characterized by its substantial body size relative to other crane flies. Adults are typically encountered during the warmer months. Like other members of the genus Tipula, the larvae develop in soil or decaying organic matter.
Tipula dietziana
Tipula dietziana is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Alexander in 1915. It is known from the Nearctic region, with records from New York south to Kansas and South Carolina. As a member of the genus Tipula, it shares the characteristic elongated body and extremely long legs typical of crane flies, though specific distinguishing features for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Tipula dorsimacula
Tipula dorsimacula is a large crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, first described by Walker in 1848. It is one of two recognized subspecies within the species complex, with the nominate subspecies T. dorsimacula dorsimacula and T. dorsimacula shasta described by Alexander in 1919. The species belongs to the diverse genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species across the Northern Hemisphere.
Tipula duplex
Tipula duplex is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Walker in 1848. It belongs to a diverse genus of crane flies found across the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known from the Nearctic region with documented occurrences in Canada and the United States.
Tipula fragilis
large crane fly
Tipula fragilis is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It is found in Canada and the United States, ranging from Alberta to the Atlantic provinces and south to Indiana, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. The species was described by Loew in 1863.
Tipula grahamina
Tipula grahamina is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Alexander in 1963. It belongs to the diverse genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species worldwide. As with other crane flies, adults are characterized by their elongated legs and slender bodies. The species is known from California, USA.
Tipula hermannia
Tipula hermannia is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, order Diptera. Described by Alexander in 1915, this species is distributed across the Nearctic region, occurring from Canada southward through the eastern and central United States. As a member of the genus Tipula, it belongs to one of the largest genera of crane flies. The species has been documented in 46 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is encountered with moderate frequency by naturalists.
Tipula hirsuta
hairy crane fly
Tipula hirsuta is a large crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, first described by Doane in 1901. It is characterized by its notably hairy body, as indicated by its species epithet. The species occurs across eastern North America, with records spanning from Wisconsin to the northeastern United States and south to Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Tipula ignobilis
Tipula ignobilis is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It is known from Canada and the United States, with records spanning from Manitoba and Ontario south to Kansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina. As a member of the genus Tipula, it belongs to one of the most species-rich genera of crane flies in North America.
Tipula inusitata
Tipula inusitata is a species of large crane fly described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1949. It belongs to the family Tipulidae, one of the most diverse families within the order Diptera. The species is known from California, USA, though specific details regarding its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in published literature.
Tipula jacintoensis
Tipula jacintoensis is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It was described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1946. The species is known only from California, where it has been recorded in the San Jacinto Mountains. As a member of the genus Tipula, it shares the characteristic elongated body and extremely long legs typical of crane flies, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented.
Tipula jacobus
Tipula jacobus is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. First described by Alexander in 1931, it was long perceived as restricted to eastern North America until a Midwestern record from Indiana extended its known range westward. The female was formally described for the first time in a 2009 paper documenting this range expansion.
Tipula longiventris
Tipula longiventris is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It is a Nearctic species distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada through the United States. As a member of the genus Tipula, it belongs to one of the most species-rich genera of crane flies. The species is documented through iNaturalist observations and taxonomic databases, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Tipula megaura
Tipula megaura is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Doane in 1901. It is one of the larger species within the genus Tipula. The species occurs across the Nearctic region, with records from Canada and the northern United States. Like other crane flies, it has a slender body and extremely long legs relative to its body size.
Tipula metacomet
Metacomet crane fly
Tipula metacomet is a large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1965. The species is named after Metacomet (also known as King Philip), a Wampanoag chief who led Native American resistance against English colonists in New England during the 1670s. It is one of numerous crane fly species in the genus Tipula, which is the largest genus of crane flies with hundreds of species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.
Tipula morrisoni
Tipula morrisoni is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1915. It belongs to the diverse genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. As a crane fly, it exhibits the characteristic elongated body, extremely long legs, and single pair of wings typical of the family. The species is known from the eastern and central United States.
Tipula pacifica
Pacific crane fly
Tipula pacifica is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It occurs along the Pacific coast of North America, from British Columbia south to California. The species was described by Doane in 1912. As a member of the genus Tipula, it shares the characteristic elongated body and extremely long legs typical of crane flies.
Tipula praecisa
Tipula praecisa is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It was first described by Hermann Loew in 1872. The species is endemic to the western United States, with records from California, Oregon, and Washington. As a member of the large and diverse genus Tipula, it shares the general body plan of crane flies: an elongated body, very long legs, and a single pair of membranous wings.
Tipula sackeniana
Tipula sackeniana is a crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1918. It belongs to the large genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species worldwide. The species is known from the eastern United States, with records spanning from New York and Connecticut south to Tennessee and Georgia. Like other crane flies, adults are characterized by their elongated legs and slender bodies, though specific distinguishing features for this species require close examination.
Tipula schizomera
Tipula schizomera is a large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1940. It is distributed across the southwestern United States and Mexico, representing one of the Nearctic species in this diverse genus. As with other Tipula species, it belongs to a group commonly known as crane flies or daddy longlegs, characterized by elongated bodies and extremely long legs.
Tipula senega
Tipula senega is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1915. It is distributed across the Nearctic region, occurring in Canada from Alberta and Ontario to Newfoundland, and southward through the United States to Iowa, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. As a member of Tipulidae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich families of Diptera.
Tipula silvestra
Tipula silvestra is a large crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, described by Doane in 1909. It is found in the western United States, particularly California. As a member of the genus Tipula, it shares the characteristic elongated body and extremely long legs typical of crane flies, though specific distinguishing features for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Tipula siskiyouensis
Tipula siskiyouensis is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Charles Paul Alexander in 1949. The species epithet refers to the Siskiyou Mountains, suggesting a geographic association with this mountain range along the California-Oregon border. Like other Tipula species, it belongs to a large and diverse genus of crane flies commonly known as "daddy longlegs" due to their elongated legs and slender bodies. The species is documented from Oregon in the Nearctic region.
Tipula subeluta
Tipula subeluta is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Johnson in 1913. It is a member of the large genus Tipula, which contains hundreds of species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. The species is recorded from the eastern United States, with distribution extending from Massachusetts southward to Louisiana and Florida. Like other crane flies, it is a delicate, long-legged insect often mistaken for a giant mosquito, though adults do not bite and most species have short adult lifespans focused on reproduction.
Tipula submaculata
Tipula submaculata is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Loew in 1863. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, ranging from Wisconsin and Ontario south to Arkansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina. As a member of the genus Tipula, it belongs to one of the most species-rich genera of crane flies, though specific ecological and behavioral details for this particular species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Tipula tricolor
Tipula tricolor is a Nearctic species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Fabricius in 1775. It is distributed across much of eastern and central North America, from Canada south through the United States. As a member of the large genus Tipula, it shares the characteristic elongated body and extremely long legs typical of crane flies.
Tipula triplex
Tipula triplex is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1848. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Tipula, which contains over 2,000 species worldwide. Like other crane flies, it is characterized by its elongated legs and slender body form. The species is part of the Palaearctic fauna, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available literature.
Tipula valida
large crane fly
Tipula valida is a species of large crane fly in the family Tipulidae. It is recognized as a valid species within the genus Tipula, with two recognized subspecies: the nominate form T. v. valida and T. v. atricornis. The species has been documented across the Nearctic region with distribution records in Canada and the United States. As a member of Tipulidae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich families of Diptera, commonly known as crane flies or daddy longlegs.
Tipula vestigipennis
Tipula vestigipennis is a crane fly species in the family Tipulidae, first described by Rennie Wilbur Doane in 1908. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size, with females substantially larger than males. It is endemic to a highly restricted range in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, where it has been documented as a pest species destructive to vegetation and crops. The species belongs to the subgenus Triplicitipula.
Tipula xanthostigma
Tipula xanthostigma is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, described by Dietz in 1917. Records indicate it occurs in the Nearctic region, specifically in Colorado, USA. As with many crane flies, detailed biological information is limited.