UoPHoCDA
Crane Fly (Tipula maxima)
This is the largest of the British Crane flies. It has a leg span of 100mm, i.e. 4 inches and it has quite distinctive, heavily patterned wings.
As with several other crane flies, dragonflies, midges and mosquitos it's development cycle includes an aquatic phase. The female lays her eggs in the damp mossy fringes of ponds, ditches and streams. On hatching, the larvae take to an aquatic existence just below the water surface, before continuing their development in submerged leaf litter.
In order to survive below water, the various species of aquatic insect larvae have developed their own unique breathing apparatus, ranging from gills to snorkel tubes.
Source: www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/flies p1.html#TipulaMaxima.
A7C7584a-flickr
Crane Fly (Tipula maxima)
This is the largest of the British Crane flies. It has a leg span of 100mm, i.e. 4 inches and it has quite distinctive, heavily patterned wings.
As with several other crane flies, dragonflies, midges and mosquitos it's development cycle includes an aquatic phase. The female lays her eggs in the damp mossy fringes of ponds, ditches and streams. On hatching, the larvae take to an aquatic existence just below the water surface, before continuing their development in submerged leaf litter.
In order to survive below water, the various species of aquatic insect larvae have developed their own unique breathing apparatus, ranging from gills to snorkel tubes.
Source: www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/flies p1.html#TipulaMaxima.
A7C7584a-flickr