Which Tipula?

jezlee · #1 (**permalink**) 26-06-2007, 07:38 PM

Anybody have any ides on which species of Tipula this is?

GME · #2 (**permalink**) 26-06-2007, 07:56 PM

Possibly a Spotted Crane -fly female but I'm no expert on Tipula. That'd be my guess though

Laurence Clemons · #3 (**permalink**) 27-06-2007, 08:06 AM

It is Nephrotoma quadrifaria.

jezlee · #4 (**permalink**) 27-06-2007, 08:25 AM

Thanks guys - GME for pointing me in the right direction and Laurence for giving me the species ...

Incidentally, Laurence, is there another very similar Nephrotoma species? And if so, how can you tell them apart?

Laurence Clemons · #5 (**permalink**) 27-06-2007, 02:04 PM

There are several species of Nephrotoma - about a dozen without looking up the exact figure. The first thing to look at is the colour of the abdomen - is there an unbroken dark stripe, a divided dark stripe or is it unicolorous? Then there are the thoracic stripes and how they are arranged. I think only one other species has significantly shaded wing patches.

jezlee · #6 (**permalink**) 27-06-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurence Clemons

There are several species of Nephrotoma - about a dozen without looking up the exact figure. The first thing to look at is the colour of the abdomen - is there an unbroken dark stripe, a divided dark stripe or is it unicolorous? Then there are the thoracic stripes and how they are arranged. I think only one other species has significantly shaded wing patches.

Thanks, as usual, Lawrence for your seemingly inexhaustable well of knowledge!