Members of the Tipula genus are crane flies, which are often mistaken for gigantic mosquitoes.  Crane flies is a common name used to describe several genera in the family Tipulidae. These crane flies are not to be confused with the winter crane flies of the family Trichoceridae or the phantom crane flies of the family Ptychopteridae. Crane flies belong to the sub-order Nematocera and the order Diptera, which is also the order that mosquitoes belong to. (Bland & Jacques, 1978)

Although crane flies resemble mosquitoes, they are quite harmless and do not sting, bite, or suck blood.   Crane flies can be found almost anywhere on earth, in all of the earth's biogeographic regions, including saline and marine habitats.  Most crane flies can be spotted in areas of moist, temperate regions, frequently near bodies of water or near marshes where vegetation is abundant. Many times crane flies are frequently seen near bright lights. (Stehr, 1991).

Crane flies are frail-bodied insects with a thin, delicate cuticle (Daly, 1978). Crane flies possess two membraneous wings as well as halteres, which are small wings used for stability (Espelie, 1995).  Their six legs are long and easily breakable, which makes crane flies capable of escaping from spider webs.  The antennae have 6 to 14 segments. Most crane flies have dull coloration and are colored yellow, brown, or black.  Their sizes vary greatly, from a wing length of 2mm to 4mm (Williams, 1992).       

The order Diptera first appeared in the Jurassic Period.  Dennis M. Lehmkuhl proposes that shortly after the origin of insects from an annelid-like ancestor and the evolution of wings, many orders became aquatic in the immature stages Members of the tipula are considered primitive flies with the two wings and complete metamorphosis characteristic of the genus (1979).

Crane flies produce primitive larvae in the form of maggots.  Most larvae are aquatic, though some specimens live in the soil.  After the larvae develop in four stages, the organism pupates, and then it becomes the flying adult we are familar with. The adult emerges from the pupal stage usually between April and September. The short-lived adults feed on nectar. Many times the adults copulate in the air, and the female lays eggs on the water or in the soil with an ovipositor.

Because crane flies are well-adapted for so many diverse biogeographic areas, it is no wonder that there are so many species that exist world-wide.  Unfortunately for the Tipulidae family, no comprehensive research exists, and identification merely by species is very difficult (Smith, 1997).  Over 14,000 species of Tipulidae have been recorded world-wide, with over 1,500 in the United States and Canada  (Stehr, 1991).  Unfortunately, I was not able to find much information that gave a comprehensive key with any considerable information on numerous species of Tipula.  Most of the information obtained on the following species was pieced together from numerous sources.  In the future, I hope entomologists will produce works on a comprehensive list of the Tipula species of the SouthEast, particularly for Georgia.  I have listed the species that I was able to obtain information on, as well as links to pages with more information for the species, Tipula paludosa and Tipula abdominalis.

• Tipula albivitta Walker is between 24-35 mm with a large, dark brown, triangular marking on its wings.  The femora are yellow with black tips.  It is found in the Easter United States as well as SouthEastern and Southcentral Canada (Bland 1978).
• Tipula abdominalis (Say) is between 24-38 mm with a black and gray patterned thorax and gray and brownish-black striped sides. The wings have gray on them as well.  The abdomen is orange with black sides.  In the late summer, t.abdominalis can be found in the Eastern United States south to Florida..
• Tipula acuta Doane is between 15-25 mm with a gray body with a dark brown middorsal line n its abdomen.  White marks and dark spots are near the wing tips. During the late summer or early fall, this specimen can be found on the Pacific Coast States.
• Tipula lunata has a tan body and brown legs.   Its wings are silver to clear.  This fly likes to rest on marshy vegetation.  Among other places, it resides in England.
• Tipula maxima is notable for its large wingspan of more than 4cm.  Most larvae are saprophytic, feeding on dead organic matter, but some are leather-jackets, feeding on plant roots and plant parts.
• Tipula oleracea is a common fly that behaves similarly to t.paludosa, except it sometimes produces two generations a year.
• Tipula paludosa name by Meigan, has a gray-white body and silver wings.  Its larvae live in the damp soil and are responsible for crop damage in the NorthWestern United States as well as parts of Europe, Vancouver and Nova Scotia.
• Tipula simplex Doan can be found in California with the larvae feeding on leaves of grasses and grains. These leather jackets, like t.paludosa, are pests of grain crops.
• Tipula trivittata trivittata Say is between 14-22 mm with a thoracic stripe pale in the center. The abdomen has three brown stipes and gray lateral margins.  It can be found in the Eastern United States.

Where is more information on the Tipula genus?

I read the following works to learn more about Tipula, with the exception of the works by Alexander and Say.

Alexander, C.P. The crane-flies of New York. Pt. 1. Distribution and taxonomy of the adult flies. Cornell

University. Agric. Exp. Stn. Mem. 25: 765-993.

Bland, Roger G. How to Know the Insects. 1978. 3rd ed. The Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers.   

   Dubuque, Iowa. (ISBN 0-697-04752). 326-27.

Daly, Howell V., Doyen John T., & Ehrlich, Paul R. Introduction to Insect Ecology and Diversity. 1978.

McGraw-Hill. New York. (ISBN 0-07-015208-X). 502 pages.

Espelie, Karl. "Diptera." Lecture on the Order Diptera.  The University of Georgia.  Athens, Georgia.  April 1995.

Howard, Leland O. 1904. The Insect Book. Norwood Press. New York. 1904. 84-95.

Klausnitzer, Bernhard. 1987. Insects: Their Biology and Cultural History. Universe Books.

New York. (ISBN 0-87663-666-0). 224-25.

Lehmkuhl, Dennis M. 1979. How to Know the Aquatic Insects. Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers. Dubuque, Iowa.

(ISBN 0-697-04767-9). 160 pages.

Smith, Cecil. August 1997. Personal interview.

Stehr, Frederick W. Ed. 1991. Immature Insects. vol. 2. Kendall / Hunt Publishing Company. Dubuque, Iowa.

(ISBN 0-8403-4639-5). 690-734.

Sutherland, W.S. 1978. Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms. Entomological Society of America.

College Park, Maryland. Page 81.

Williams, D. Dudley and Feltmare, Blair W. 1992. Aquatic Insects. Redwood Press, Ltd., Melksham England.

(ISBN 0-85198-782-6). 299 pages.