The Crane-Flies of New York — Part I 879 



(1910) very valuable paper cites in detail the feeding habits of the local 

 species of Geranomyia, which sip the nectar from various composite 

 flowers (Eupatorium, Solidago, Aster, Erigeron, Silphium, Rudbcckia, 

 Verbesina, Cacalia, and others). A few other plant families (Apocynaceae, 

 Ericaceae, Umbelliferae, Rhamnaccae, Lauraceae) are fed upon by various 

 species of crane-flies. The food of the majority of crane-flies, or, indeed, 

 their duration of existence in an adult state, is very little understood. 

 Many species are presumed to be comparatively short-lived and would 

 not require food before the essential functions of reproduction and 

 oviposition were completed; other forms, however, are on the wing for 

 so long a time that it is probable that some sort of food is taken during 

 this period. 



Resting habits 

 The Tipulidae vary in their resting habits and in the positions assumed, 

 according to the species and to the habitats frequented. Some (as 

 Molophilus and Erioptera) rest on the vertical or inclined surfaces 

 of trees, cliffs, or buildings, with all the legs far outstretched like those 

 of a spider. Many others habitually rest on the upper or the lower sur- 

 faces of leaves. In such positions of rest the wings are usually held 

 outspread, or divaricate, in- the Tipulinae, and folded over the abdomen 

 in the Limnobiinae, But such broad generalizations break down even 

 within a single genus. Thus, in Limnophila such species as niunda, 

 areolata, and niveitarsis have the wings folded over the back, while L. 

 toxoneura and the related Epiphragma fascipennis hold the wings divari- 

 cate; in the genus Tipula, most species of which rest with outspread 

 wings, the species of the marmorata group (fragilis, ignobilis, and others), 

 as well as those of the related genus Longurio, hold the wings incumbent 

 over the abdomen. Some exotic crane-flies (as the genus Thrypticomyia, 

 Dicranomyia saltens, and several species of Trentepohlia) habitually rest 

 on spiders' webs. All these species have conspicuously white feet; 

 Dicranomyia saltens has a curious horizontal dance along a transverse 

 strand. Species of Dolichopeza and Oropeza living in caves and beneath 

 dark culverts, hang suspended from the roof by one or two pairs of legs. 

 Limnophila montana, Dicranomyia badia, D. simulans, and some other 

 species that live on cliffs, rest flat against the rock with all the legs on 

 the support. Many species of Limnobiini {Geranomyia canadensis, 



