What is this? Ptychopteridae (phantom crane flies) 74 spp. Crane fly larvae feed on the roots of the grasses. Crane flies of both families were named for their long legs, and most authors attribute the âphantomâ part of the name to the way ⦠The insect walks or hops on its tarsus. They aren’t huge. Still unpacking. The BugLady was lucky enough to witness a few happy PCF couples flying around in tandem. “it is impossible that they [av_immense vesicles in the metatarsi] should be used as reservoirs for air for respiration, on account of their distance from the body of the insect. Our PCF (Bittacomorpha clavipes) can be seen east of the Rockies, from late spring to early autumn, in the fairly dense vegetation along the shady edges of wetlands. If flies upright with its legs spread apart. The horntail posing on the wood fence bounced off the BugLady one day, and she treated it to a few hours in the refrigerator so she could photograph it. Your email address will not be published. By Caroline Knef. Phantom crane flies belong in the small family Ptychopteridae (only three genera). Insects breathe largely by diffusion; their respiration is mostly passive (although muscle contractions can push air through the respiratory system more quickly). As they expose a large surface, they offer great resistance to the air without adding appreciably to the insect’s weight. A blogger in Michigan suggests that Crane fly legs are oh-so-easily detachable, and that the PCF may sacrifice a conspicuously-striped leg to save its life. It was really kool to see the answer to what bug it was. The family Tipulidae is one of the largest, consisting of 15,000 species of individual fly distributed over 525 genera and subgenera. Phantom Crane Fly Bittacomorpha clavipes Weak fliers that appear to wobble as they fly. Itâs like birch and beech, and so many othersâmy mouth jumps before my brain kicks into gear.) Most BugFans are familiar with crane flies (those giant, non-biting âmosquitoesâ in the family Tipulidae) (keep an eye outâsome of the fall-flying Tipulids are pretty spectacular). I found a phantom crane fly at my shcool during an outside assembly. Crane flies of both families were named for their long legs, and most authors attribute the âphantomâ part of the name to the way ⦠The larval stage can last from two weeks to over two months. Since adult crane flies do not live long and are not really dangerous, your crane fly control efforts should be targeted primarily in getting rid of crane fly larvae. And itâs harmless. Birds and other predators will eat Crane Flies, ⦠According to Voshell in A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America, the larvae “burrow deep into sediment during periods of the winter when the water freezes over. The species Bittacomorpha clavipes, or better known as the Phantom Crane Fly, belongs to the Class Ptychopteridae and the Order Diptera. You will receive a new password via e-mail. Most adults live long enough to mate and then they die. You can also subscribe without commenting. Signature: Sara .A. Join our friendly community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants. 7 close-up macro pictures of a Ptychopteridae (Phantom Crane Flies) True Fly Larva, collected from Mystery Creek #199 in Washington on July 28, 2019. Phantom crane fly definition is - a fly of the family Ptychopteridae. Last summer I wrote about the much more substantial giant eastern crane fly. Crane fly Wikipedia They may look like the biggest mosquitoes ever, but crane flies are actually more dangerous to crops than mosquitoes are, since their larvae tend to ⦠Fragile legs are shed if bitten by a predator. Adults feed on nectar or not at all. A bug I found in Maine. When flying, Bittacomorpha uses the wings scarcely at all, relying in great measure upon wind currents for transportation. View picture of Phantom Crane Fly (Bittacomorpha clavipes) at Dave's Garden. Clearly, PCFs have caught our fancy, and it’s fun to note the words that are used to describe them and their flight: If the BugLady were to pick an adjective, it would be “flickering,” and she thinks they look like tiny sparklers. Pupation occurs in the same habitat where the larvae develop, without any special preparation. While the gentle, just-under-two-inch-long horntail looks dangerous, it neither bites nor stings. Aptly named, these creatures are phantom crane flies. It scared me so much. The first tarsomere of the legs is dilated and filled with tracheae, a characteristic which enables the flies to drift in the wind with their long legs extended to catch the breeze.”. Required fields are marked *. It is found in the eastern United States west to the Rocky Mountains. ... Phantom Crane Fly (Family Ptychopteridae) Can they fly up-wind? Beneficial is a tough term to describe in terms of insects. to sludge through the atmosphere without those wings that evolution gave them. Twentieth century entomologist C. P. Alexander (who described more than 11,000 species and genera of flies during his long career) said of the PCF that “This species is one of the most conspicuous and interesting of all Nearctic Diptera.