Crane Fly, maybe?

[Larky]

Hi all.

With regards to crane flies, which are apparently out en-masse this year (I've not seen too many in Norwich thank god) I wondered if anyone could help me identify what may be one.

It's yellow and black, horizontally striped abdomen. It's a fatter version of a standard crane fly but flies much faster and more eratically. It is attracted to light, flies directly at the bulb then dies on impact.

Any ideas?

L.

[bugbotherer]

Hi L.
could do with a pic as not many stripey craneflies about this end of the year. The group of craneflies most fitting of your description are Nephrotoma
Let us know how you get on

[Larky]

OK, maybe I have discovered a new species and will be famous!

http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/i.../tipulidae.htm

The ones we have here are a cross between the top one and the third one down. The shape of the third one down is correct, but the colouring and fatness of the top one are closer to ours. Either way they are much bigger than a normal crane.

L.

[Imaginos]

Nephrotoma are smaller than Tipula, could be Ctenophora sp., or possibly an Ichneumon wasp of some sort (Amblyteles sp. for example).

[Laurence Clemons]

It is most probably a species of Nephrotoma. Last week I found Nephrotoma scurra and this seems to be of the latest species to fly. The black and yellow Ctenophora are much earlier insects.