strange flying creature
Hi,
You have a great website, it’s helped me identify some critters in my area already.
If you have time to check this one out, I’d be grateful. I live in southeast Pennsylvania and this past July I was hiking at a State park and came across two of these in the woods. I’ve never seen them before. I tried searching your website but I’m not even sure what insect family they’re in. They were about an inch long and the strangest thing I observed was how they flew. They seemed to just float and were almost vertical as they moved slowly thru the air. The one in the photo drifted toward a plant and just sort of hung onto it when I took the picture. Thanks for any help,
Jaime
Phantom Crane Fly
Hi Jaime,
What a positively gorgeous image of a Phantom Crane Fly, Bittacomorpha clavipes. As we are still trying to transition to our new format, we are not posting live, but your image will be on the web as soon as our transition is complete.
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Posted 17 September 2008
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Wasp family or bizarre fly?
I found this at my fathers cottage today near Maniwaki, Quebec (Canada). It was hanging on the siding first thing in the morning and was there when we left in the evening. It was around three inches long (from leg tip to leg tip). After browsing your wonderful site, I thought it might be some sort of wasp (related to the Pelecinid) but it seems to fall into the fly category as it has only two wings plus halteres. Any help would be appreciated.
Good call on the fly. This is a Giant Eastern Crane Fly, Pedicia albivitta. Because they are so distinctive, we have split Crane Flies from other flies and given them a distinct page on our site.
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Posted 23 August 2008
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Butt thumper
Dear Bugman,
Last evening after a very good downpour, I was in our backyard in Central PA and noticed this ? thumping his or her butt on the soft ground. It would thump and fly and thump and fly and then thump and wait. I believe it is depositing eggs but am not sure. I also am not sure what it is. Any help would be appreciated. Sincerely
Larry Lochner
Hollidaysburg, PA
Hi Larry,
Your insect is a Crane Fly in the family Tipulidae, and the behavior you describe is that of a female Crane Fly laying eggs. Female Crane Flies often oviposit in the ground, and the larvae, known as Leatherbacks, feed on detritus. For more on the life cycle of a Crane Fly, visit the Crane Flies of Pennsylvania website. We are not sure of the species but we will try to contact Dr. Chen Young to see if he can assist.
Update: (06/18/2008)
Hello Daniel,
The image showed up okay this time and it looks like a female of Nephrotoma virescens to me. http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/tipulinae.htm#Nephrotoma_virescens This species usually when freshly emerged are greenish in color and gradually turning greenish yellow as in this image. There is another species Nephrotoma alterna http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/tipulinae.htm#Nephrotoma%20alterna which also has nice patterns on the top of the thorax. But I believe yours is a N. virescens. Thanks,
Chen
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Posted 17 June 2008
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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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