AQUATIC INSECTS 



ders, and by birds, the sandpipers, woodcocks and wading- 

 birds. 



Identification. — The Superfamily Tipuloidea contains 

 four families, the primitive craneflies, TanyderidcB; phantom 

 cranefiies, PtycJiopteridce; "false" craneflies, AnisopidcB; and 

 the typical craneflies, Tiptdidce. Members of only two 

 families are mentioned here. 



Fig. 222. — A cranefly with balloon feet, Bitta- 

 comorpha clavipes: i, adult; 2, larva. 



Phantom craneflies, Family Ptychopteridae. — One of the 



most striking members of this family is Bittacomorpha clavipes, 

 a phantom cranefly with black-and-white-banded legs (Fig. 

 222). When these craneflies are mating the female flies 

 ahead trailing the male after her. Their feet work like those 

 of the winged Mercury but by a different device. The tarsi 

 or feet of Bittaco?norpJia are pillowed out by sacs and tubes 

 containing air, which buoy it up as it drifts in the wind relying 

 upon wind currents as well as any modern glider. Alexander 

 has quoted the following letter written to him b}- Dr. J. G. 

 Needham: "A breeze was blowing up the gorge, and on the 

 breeze a Bittacomorpha was drifting rapidly upward in the 



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