Short-winged cranefly - flightless surely?

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks.

Help with identification and info/comments on short wings appreciated.



Bruce

[Jason Green]

Good evening Bruce

What an anomaly! Never seen one like that before. Probably a Tipulidae member. Thanks for sharing, I'll be interested in other views on this

Take care,

Jason

[JRsbugs]

I haven't seen one like it either! I wonder if it's newly emerged and the wings have yet to fill out? The abdomen and antennae are very unusual.

[Rossco]

Bruce, that's weird. The wings look fully inflated, so perhaps it's a short wing (brachypterous) mutation destined to end up in the belly of a predator even quicker than its fully-winged relatives? The antennae look peculiar too, so maybe it's a very dysfunctional individual with all manner of mutations - saying that. In fruit fly experiments, you can get a fruit fly mutation with legs where it's antennae should be:

http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Antennapedia_fly.jpg

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Rossco

In fruit fly experiments, you can get a fruit fly mutation with legs where it's antennae should be:

http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Antennapedia_fly.jpg

...he looks like he can really follow his nose!

I'll get me coat... which way's out?

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

I haven't seen one like it either! I wonder if it's newly emerged and the wings have yet to fill out? The abdomen and antennae are very unusual.

A good suggestion Janet. I had a very similar one in Battersea park a little while back - with standard wings.

5/10/2009

Tipulidae sp.?

What's unusual about the antennae? We may have the same species, Bruce.

[Bruce Williams]

Jason, Janet and Ross - Thanks for your comments.

Yes Janet I wondered about the possibility of the insect not having successfully completed inflation of its wings - they just look so otherwise perfectly formed.

Thanks for the interesting link Ross.

Your insect looks to have a very similar abdomen Jason however the antennae are quite different (the mouth parts too I think).

Bruce

[ChrisR]

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Yes Janet I wondered about the possibility of the insect not having successfully completed inflation of its wings - they just look so otherwise perfectly formed.

I would go for teneral (not inflated yet) because some flies are known to delay the inflation of their wings for up to a few days after emerging

[jaguarondi]

Females of Tipula pagana have reduced wings and the species is around in large numbers at present.

[Bruce Williams]

Wow - Thanks jaguarondi looks like you're spot-on with T. pagana see here:

http://rxwildlife.org.uk/2005/10/04/...ss-craneflies/

here,

http://www.dipteristsforum.org.uk/im...1226939639.jpg

and here:

http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewth...hread_id=19920

Bruce

[Beekeeper]

This deformity, if indeed it is, is common in bees which have been subject to attack by the varroa bug, perhaps this is another deformity caused by infection or parasite.

jaguarondi probably has the correct answer but i just though i would throw that suggestion into the equasion just in case.

Ian