3G DIPTERA OF MINNESOTA. 



TIPULIDAE. 

 Crane Flies. 



Almost every one is familiar with these long legged, some- 

 what delicate flies, which in England are called "Daddy Long-Legs." 

 Comstock, in describing the family, fittingly quotes: 



"My six long legs, all here and there, 

 Oppress my bosom with despair." 



They must not, however, be confused with the spider which in 

 this country we refer to as "Daddy Long-Legs." Probably few 

 realize the large number of species found in this group, nearly or 

 quite 1 200, 300 of which occur in the United States, ranging in size 

 from that of a large mosquito to forms over two inches long, re- 

 sembling superficially a giant mosquito. These are the flies which 

 are so prone to lose a leg or two when handled, though this loss 

 does not seem to inconvenience them in any way. They all have 

 as a distinguishing mark a V shaped suture on the upper part of 



Fig. 19. Helobia hybrida, Meigen. (Original). 



the thorax. Most of them, the larger species particularly, are 

 clumsy in flight, keeping rather close to the ground and frequently 

 alighting, but some of the smaller species are capable of more sus- 

 tained flight, and are seen in cloud-like swarms at twilight in early 

 spring, and in autumn, and occasionally in winter on warm days. 

 Found commonly in fields, meadows and woods, which places are 

 frequented by the larvae, the latter living commonly in decaying 

 vegetation; some, however, are aquatic; some are found on leaves 



