365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Crane Fly
Day 303: No, it's not the Mozzie from Hell. It's a Crane Fly, Tipula pubera to be precise, with no common name. It's easy to identify this one because no other Crane Fly with patterned wings can compare to it in size. Tipula pubera can attain a body length of an inch and a quarter! Most members of Tipula have very short lifespans, generally under two weeks. Their larvae feed on rotting vegetation, playing an essential role in the decomposition process. The adults do not feed as a general rule, although some occasionally sip nectar. Crane flies are harmless, although they are sometimes considered pests when they populate cultivated lawns or grassy sports fields.
Labels:
Crane Fly,
decomposers,
Tipula pubera
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