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Crane Fly

Tipula californica

Photo by HemaShah
Published on Project Noah
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37.9729, -122.001

Field Notes

Description:

colorful insect found on outside wall.

Habitat:

foothills

Reference Links:

Ctenophora? - Tipula californica - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (16)
HemaShah
I wish though I could have captured the pattern on the thorax.
HemaShah
Thank you so much for the ID Argy and Gators.
gatorfellows
You may have even more in California. I think Argy is correct in ID of Tipula californica; there is an orange tip one in Bugguide; ran across it reviewing the Tiger Crane Flies; http://bugguide.net/node/view/639150/bgimage
HemaShah
Thanks for the info ! Knowing that there can be as many as 29 species,my quest has begun!!
HemaShah
Argy and Gators,this is the kind of crane fly I am used to spotting. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/20123076
HemaShah
Thank you Gators. Will research the links. Now I found out that Crane flies come in colors!Is it going to be mosquitoes next?!
gatorfellows
Might also look through Genus Nephrotoma - Tiger Crane Flies
gatorfellows
We have 29 species here in Texas and I just know the looks like a crane fly. Here is a good Crane Fly Keys of Pennsylvania. I know it is not California, but it does have great if information, especially in the wing veination, which you have a great photo on your spotting. http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/cranefly/idkeys.htm
HemaShah
thanks Argy,that's a pretty close match!! Except for the red missing on the abdomen!!
Mark Ridgway
I can't find more than Tipulidae... http://www.flickr.com/photos/29845002@N02/3069815737/
HemaShah
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo259169.htm Here is a colorful one.
HemaShah
there are vividly colored Crane flies though this is my first sighting of one.
Mark Ridgway
Yep sure looks like one.. can't quite see halteres. Did you process it some Jemma to make it sharper? Nice colors.
Photographed
PublishedMarch 29, 2013

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