Tipula flavolineata?

[WestLothian]

Is this smaller long horned "longlegs" a Tipula flavolineata?

[bugbotherer]

Sorry but I can't say from that angle as there are not enough identifying features (and there are 91 GB species of Tipulid). It is a male however. Perhaps some idea of the time of year and habitat could clue me in a bit more ?

[WestLothian]

It was today 17:30 Edinburgh.

[Laurence Clemons]

Tipula flavolineata is a mid-Summer species. Tipula pagana is more likely at this time of year especially as the specimen has clear wings.

[WestLothian]

Thank you. I couldn't find a matching image for it on the web but the "horns" and size seemed to fit the description of flavolineata. Do you have a link for another pagana image or have you a decent reference book?

[Laurence Clemons]

I still mainly use the Royal Entomological Society key by Ralph Coe (1950) for identifying craneflies. However Alan Stubbs has produced some more user friendly keys. I have a set because I am a member of the Dipterists Forum. You may be able to acquire copies from Alan Stubbs, 181 Broadway, Peterborough PE1 4DS. (Tel: 01733 346648) or John Kramer, 31 Ash Tree Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5TE.

[Imaginos]

Originally Posted by WestLothian

Thank you. I couldn't find a matching image for it on the web but the "horns" and size seemed to fit the description of flavolineata. Do you have a link for another pagana image or have you a decent reference book?

It's been said before, but I'll say it again...Using the web for identification of insects is fraught with difficulties-the two major ones being the ease with which misidentified species can be placed online and also there are many more species than can be found online. There are around 300 species of cranefly in the British Isles, I would guess that only 10-20% maximum have photos on the web & that probably at least 10-20% of those photos are misidentified. Reference books all the way I'm afraid, although if you must use online resources then the best around are the various recording schemes websites (Syrphids & Tachinids spring to mind) and Bioimages-BioImages - Virtual Fieldguide (UK)

[bugbotherer]

Indeed there are a large number of craneflies 91 Tipulidae (long-palped cranflies) and 252 short-palped craneflies (generally smaller and midge-like, but not all....) according to Dipt Forum records
T.pagana is a good shout but without the specimen and a scope you would be hard pressed on these images to get much closer on id.
With craneflies I try to get a lateral shot and a dorsal shot (wing closed and open), but then you need an obliging subject