''Tipula'' is a very large
insect
Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...
genus in the
fly
Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwing ...
family
Tipulidae (crane flies). The members of this genus are sometimes collectively called common crane flies.
''Tipula'' contains over 2,000 species located throughout the world.
Like all crane flies, ''Tipula'' species have long bodies and long legs, somewhat resembling large
mosquitos
Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning "gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "litt ...
. Adults generally have a body length of 15-20 mm. They are usually brown with clear or brownish wings. They feed on nectar and are active throughout the year. ''Tipula'' maggots are sometimes known as "leather jackets" due to their tough skin.
Technical description: Discal cell present ; M3 arises from M4 ; all tibiae spurred Antennae with whorls of long hairs. Rs usually long ; Sc ends far from base of Rs ; cell 4 always petiolate ; body colour usually grey, brown or dull yellow, rarely black ; praescutal stripes
(when present) usually dull, rarely slightly shining
Species
See
list of ''Tipula'' species.
References
External links
Catalogue of the Craneflies of the World
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1818764
Tipulidae
Tipuloidea genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus