What’s that bug?!
Dear bugman,
Hello! I must say I really love looking at your site and checking out all the strange bugs in the world. This site has helped me on many occasions! I am writing because I have found a strange bug myself. I saw this in my backyard of Tacoma, WA. Can you help me? I was wondering if this was some kind of wasp perhaps? I’m sorry it’s a bit blurry, my camera seemed to want to focus on the leaves more than the bug! Thank you so much!
Ilona Hoffstaedter
Hi Ilona,
This is a Crane Fly, but we are uncertain of the exact species.
Update: (05/27/2008)
Daniel: The crane fly from Tacoma, Washington is a wood-boring tipulid, Ctenophora angustipennis, and appears to be a female. Males have comb-like antennae and a bulbous tip to the abdomen. This species is harmless, if not a valuable decomposer of rotting wood.
Eric
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Posted 26 May 2008
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What IS this bug?
Hi
I wonder if you can identify this beastie? We live 30 miles south of Paris in France. I have looked in all my books and on the web but find nothing like it. The only way I can describe it is a cross between a wasp, with thin yellow and black stripes, with a sting, but legs like a Daddy-Long-Legs. From head to sting it was about an inch. I look forward to hearing from you Regards
Anna Mc
Hi Anna,
All we can tell you is that this is some species of Crane Fly in the family Tipulidae , but we do not know the genus, nor species. It resembles our North American genus Ctenophora as pictured on BugGuide.
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Posted 20 April 2008
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Mosquitoes?
These are everywhere right now. I’m really tired of them. What are they? What can be done to keep them away?
These are Crane Flies, and though they resemble large mosquitos, they are not closely related (other than being flies) and they do not bite. Crane Flies are sometimes called Mosquito Hawks. Judging by the mating activity in your photo, you are apt to remain tired for a bit longer. Crane Fly adults are benign and do not feed. They are often seasonal in appearance and are attracted to lights at night. We don’t really have any suggestions on how to keep them away.
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Posted 10 April 2008
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unknown insect/creechie
bugman,
shot this pic back in late august 07. resting on a geranium leaf. don’t know what it is. after looking at your site it has some features of the rove beetle from cameroon. yet this one has wings and was found in West Michigan, US. any ideas? great site. regards,
thomas
Hi Thomas,
This is a Crane Fly, most probably a female Ctenophora dorsalis, a highly variable species, or a species in the same genus.
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Posted 05 January 2008
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unusual insect
Hi
I have been looking for this picture for some time now and found it tonight. I live in Northwestern Ontario, Canada just outside of Kakabeka Falls. This beautiful flying insect showed up in August and I have not seen one like it since. I really enjoy your site and have it bookmarked so I can visit often. Have gone through some of your bug info lists but don’t know where to start with this one. Thanks in advance if you can identify it.
Dave
Hi Dave,
This is a Crane Fly, and we matched it to Pedicia albivitta on the Crane Flies of Pennsylvania website. We agree that it is a beautiful specimen.
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Posted 14 November 2007
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Is this a Crane Fly?
We saw this on the outside of our window the other night and had never seen one with eggs around its neck. Also, the wings on the crane fly’s I see usually are not folded back like this one. Picture taken in Kenmore WA (near Seattle) Taken with a digital camera on macro looking through a hand held magnifying lens. Thanks,
Doug
Hi Doug,
You are correct about this being a Crane Fly, but those are not eggs. They are Mites that are hitching a ride on the Crane Fly in order to be transported to a new location. This method of dispersal is known as Phoresy. We will contact a Crane Fly expert, Dr. Chen W. Young, to see if he can add anything. Dr. Chen Young quickly wrote back to us with this information: “Crane flies can hold their wings either way, fold over their back or spread out to the sides. The crane fly of your image actually is one belongs to the subfamily Limoniinae. They are smaller in body size and their antennae are 14-16 segments. The large crane flies belong to subfamily Tipulinae and their antennae are 13 segments. Check this section and scroll down to see the part regarding mites on crane flies http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/introduction.htm#PREDATORS Several species of pseudoscorpions and mites have been reported to attach themselves to crane flies. The majority of these associations are actually phoretic relationships, where the pseudoscorpions and mites are carried as hitchhikers by the crane flies. However, others are parasitic mites that feed on the body fluid of the crane flies.” .
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Posted 29 June 2007
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Orange wasp – interesting abdomen shape and stinger
Hello bug enthusiasts!
While rock climbing in Memorial day Rumney, NH, we spotted this wasp (?) on a backpack clip. It was pretty lethargic and about 1.25 – 1.5 inches long. It’s bright color pattern, curved stinger, and interesting abdomen shape caught our eye. My friend who referred me to your site looked it up but didn’t find a match – he thought maybe it was a pregnant wasp of some kind…any thoughts? Thanks,
Julie (Somerville, MA)
Hi Julie,
Though it resembles an Ichneumon, this is not a wasp. It is a Crane Fly. We have scoured the Crane Flies of Pennsylvania website and believe this is a species in the genus Ctenophora. It might be Ctenophora apicata, or possibly, Ctenophora dorsalis. We will contact the author of the site, Dr. Chen W Young, to see if he can provide a species identification. Here is Dr. Young’s response: “Hi Daniel, The image shows a female crane fly of Ctenophora dorsalis. This female does not have the typical coloration of most of the Ctenophora dorsalis, but as we have leaned that this species is highly variable in their body size and body color (See notes in website http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/tipulinae.htm#Ctenophora_Tanyptera. However, the shape of the ovipositor on this images shows the typical shape of ovipositor in this species. I hope this answer your question. Thanks, Chen ”
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Posted 03 June 2007
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Bug Love
These seem to be Mosquito Hawks in love
Barb
Hi Barb,
Over the years, we have received numerous images of mating Crane Flies, sometimes called Mosquito Hawks even though they do not eat mosquitos. Your photo stands out from the crowd since the shallow depth of field and subtle backlighting nicely isolate the pair from their surroundings.
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Posted 02 June 2007
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Hi Mr. Bugman!
I hope you can open this attachment and view this bug and let me know what it is…it’s making crazy, cause I can’t find out on my own…we’ve lived here for 8 yrs. and last year was the first year they appeared…i have a close up picture on a white background if you think you can analyze easier. These guys appear like they are floating or swimming underwater rather that flying…if you can let me know if the picture is good enough i’d appreciate it very much!
This is a Phantom Crane Fly, Bittacomorpha clavipes. Your description of their etherial manner of flight is quite accurate.
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Posted 29 May 2007
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you can see this bug i took photo of on this link. Any help i much appriciated 
Bocca
Hi Bocca,
You didn’t provide us with much information here. This is a fly, and appears to be a Crane Fly in the Infraorder Tipulomorpha. Those bushy antennae and the bold coloration are quite distinctive, but since you did not provide us with global coordinates, we cannot do better than Unknown Crane Fly.
thanks for the answer. I’m located in Europe, Serbia, Belgrade
Update: (05/30/2007) From Eric Eaton
” Oh, the unknown crane fly is some other type of phantom crane fly, I am pretty sure. Chen Young, who runs the Crane Flies of Pennsylvania website could tell you for certain. Eric ”
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Posted 22 May 2007
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Another Japanese Bug ID
I’m afraid I have a little less to work with on this next insect. Frankly, I haven’t a clue on this one, but it’s pretty large. (Of course, being from Arizona, I’m used to seeing things like, oh, Palo Verde Root Borers and Giant Swallowtails. Not something like this, with legs all over the place!) This was taken in spring 2005 in the wooded hills behind Hiroshima Shudo University, Hiroshima, Japan. For a rough size reference, those leaves are between three to four inches in length. Cheers!
Carlos Ross
Tempe, Arizona, USA
Hi again Carlos,
This is a Crane Fly.
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Posted 12 January 2007
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Bug Love
Hi, my name is Brigette and I love your site. I’ve been interested in insects since I was a little kid, and am currently an undergrad studying entomology at McGill University. I love to photograph insects and thought you might enjoy some additions to your ‘bug love’ section. These were taken in my backyard in upstate NY.
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| Crane Flies |
Flower Flies |
I have included some japanese beetles, craneflies, horseflies, and ambush bugs (my favorites!). I even have some eggs as a result of the ambush bug matings, I kept several during the fall months. When introduced the males waste no time at all getting busy!
Brigette
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| Japanese Beetles |
Ambush Bugs |
Hi Brigette,
Wow!!! Thanks for sending us all your wonderful Bug Love images. They are most excellent.
Query: (01/07/2007)
Wondering if those really ARE mating Horseflies….
Lisa and Daniel: HAPPY NEW YEAR, and thanks for your site, it’s great. The “mating bugs” quartet has two happy Dipterans that are identified as “Horseflies,” but I wonder if they really are. For some reason they strike me more as Hoverflies or something else. The sender, being a budding entomologist, has great credibility, but somehow my mental antennae are quivering…so I’ll watch the site and see if there’s re-thinking on this one. regards from non-wintery Wisconsin,
Dave Fallow
Madison, WI
Hi Dave,
We tried finding a species match under Horse Fly on BugGuide to no avail. We believe the eyes indicate Horse Flies. We will check with Eric Eaton. Eric made the following correction: “The mating horse flies are actually Flower Flies in the family Syrphidae, probably in the Erastilini tribe.”
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