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Tipula vestigipennis

Tipula vestigipennis is a species of crane fly in the family Tipulidae, found in the western United States.

Description

Males are typically 15mm in body length with a wing length of 5-9mm. Females are typically 22mm in body length with a wing length of 5-6mm.

The overall color of the subjects can be described as "brownish yellow". The following is a list of characteristics:

  • Yellowish head and rostrum (gray above), sometimes with a brownish stripe
  • Palpi is yellowish towards the base and brownish towards the tip
  • The first, second, and third segments of the antennae are yellow with the remaining segments brownish and getting darker towards the tip of the antennae
  • Each brown antennae segment is furnished with 4-5 stiff hairs
  • Collar is yellowish with median and lateral brownish spots
  • Dorsum of the thorax is a light yellow
  • Dorsal stripes are yellow
  • Median stripe divided by a broad yellow line
  • Pleura and coxae are hairy
  • Seutellum is yellow and lighter laterally with a narrow median brown line
  • Metanotum is light yellow
  • Halteres are yellow with black knobs
  • Femora and tibia are yellowish and darker towards the tip
  • Tarsi are brownish to blackish
  • Abdomen has broad dorsal, lateral, and ventral brown stripes
  • Seventh and eighth segments are often almost entirely blackish or brownish
  • The posterior margin of the eighth sternite of the male is slightly curved, with a broad shallow median incision which is usually filled with light-colored membrane
  • From this membrane, two tufts of light yellow hairs arise, which cross each other close to the base at about a 45° angle
  • Broad sub-triangular chitinized plates are attached to the lateral margins of the eighth sternite which stand at right angles to it
  • Posterior margin of the ninth tergite has a broad and shallow circular incision
  • In the middle of this incision, two short triangular processes arise
  • The ovipositor is long and stout
  • Straight, acute upper valves
  • Lower valves almost reach the tip of the upper valves
  • Rounded tips

Range

Tipula vestigipennis is found exclusively in San Francisco County and San Mateo County.

Ecology

As with all Triplicitipula, T. vestigipennis is considered a pest. It is destructive to vegetation and crops.

Taxonomy

Tipula vestigipennis was first described by Rennie Wilbur Doane in Psyche (1908).

Gallery

References