Tipuloidea is a
superfamily
SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...
of
flies
Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...
containing the living families
Cylindrotomidae
The Cylindrotomidae or long-bodied craneflies are a family of Tipulomorpha, crane flies. About 115 species in 9 genera occur worldwide.
Most recent classifications place the group to family level. this was not supported by recent phylogenetic a ...
,
Limoniidae,
Pediciidae
The Pediciidae or hairy-eyed craneflies are a family of flies closely related to true crane flies, with about 500 species worldwide.
Description
For terms see Morphology of Diptera.
Pediciidae are medium-sized to large (5 mm., ''Dicrano ...
and
Tipulidae
Crane fly is a common name referring to any member of the insect family (biology), family Tipulidae. Cylindrotominae, Limoniinae, and Pediciinae have been ranked as subfamilies of Tipulidae by most authors, though occasionally elevated to family ...
, and the
extinct
Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
family
Architipulidae.
[Petersen, M.J.; Bertone, M.A.; Wiegmann, B.M.; Courtney, G.W. 2010: Phylogenetic synthesis of morphological and molecular data reveals new insights into the higher-level classification of Tipuloidea (Diptera). Systematic entomology, 35: 526-545. ] A common name for it is crane flies,
which is also applied specifically to family Tipulidae.
At least 15,300 species of
crane flies
Crane fly is a common name referring to any member of the insect family Tipulidae. Cylindrotominae, Limoniinae, and Pediciinae have been ranked as subfamilies of Tipulidae by most authors, though occasionally elevated to family rank. In the most ...
have been described, most of them (75%) by the specialist
Charles Paul Alexander
Charles Paul Alexander (September 25, 1889, Gloversville, New York - December 3, 1981) was an American entomologist who specialized in the craneflies, Tipulidae.
Charles Paul Alexander was the son of Emil Alexander and Jane Alexander (née Parke ...
.
Description
Adult crane flies are typically slender-bodied and have long legs.
Like other insects, their wings are marked with wing interference patterns which vary among species, thus are useful for species identification. They occur in moist, temperate environments such as vegetation near lakes and streams.
They generally do not feed, but some species consume nectar, pollen and/or water.
Larvae occur in various habitats including marshes, springs, decaying wood, moist soil, leaf litter, fungi, vertebrate nests and vegetation. They usually feed on decaying plant matter and microbes associated with this, but some species instead feed on living plants, fungi or other invertebrates.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1228564
Diptera superfamilies