Nephrotoma appendiculata, the spotted crane fly, is a species of crane fly. [1][2]
| Nephrotoma appendiculata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Tipulidae |
| Genus: | Nephrotoma |
| Species: | N. appendiculata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nephrotoma appendiculata (Pierre, 1919)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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Subspecies
editSubspecies include: [3]
- Nephrotoma appendiculata appendiculata (Pierre, 1919) (Northwestern Europe and the Near East)
- Nephrotoma appendiculata pertenua Oosterbroek, 1978 (Southwestern Europe and North Africa)
Distribution
editThis species is present in most of Europe, in North Africa and in the Near East. [4] Some in Southern Alberta Canada.
Habitat
editThese crane flies inhabit woodland edges, gardens, fields, rough grassland, and farmland. [5][6]
Description
editNephrotoma appendiculata has a wingspan of about 50 mm (2.0 in),[5] and a body length of 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in).[6][7] The body is yellow with a few short, black stripes on the thorax , a black horseshoe mark on the side[6] and a broad dark stripe[6] on each section of the abdomen. The wings have a thin, yellow line near the leading edge.[5] The wing stigma is usually pale, but sometimes it is dark. [6]
This species is rather similar to Nephrotoma flavescens. [6]
Biology
editAdults can be seen from April to August. [6][7] The larvae, known as "leatherjackets",[5] feed on the roots of grasses, [6][7] while the adults feed on umbellifers such as cow parsley. [6][7]
Gallery
edit-
Mating -
Male -
Female -
Wing detail
_mating.jpg)
References
edit- ^ Oosterbroek P. CCW: Catalogue of Craneflies of the World.
- ^ BioLib
- ^ Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D. Catalogue of life
- ^ Fauna europaea
- ^ a b c d G. Bradley (2006). "Spotted Craneflies: Nephrotoma appendiculata". Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Nature Spot
- ^ a b c d Commanster
Media related to Nephrotoma appendiculata at Wikimedia Commons