<< Previous Next >>

A crane fly


A crane fly
Photo Information
Copyright: Jim Costello (bullybeef53) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 28 W: 5 N: 140] (644)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-03
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Dsc F-717, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/4, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-12 16:30
Viewed: 589
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
“A crane fly", (Diptera: Tipulidae)” is the name of this photo. Crane flies are generally beneficial two-winged flies that look a bit like large mosquitoes. Despite their somewhat scary appearance, they don't bite, suck blood, or carry diseases. In fact the adults are harmless and rather comical as they bounce around the landscape and off interior walls. They are also an important food source for birds and other critters. The aquatic larvae of many crane flies are indicators of good stream health, and become fish food. Other crane flies are decomposers and help break down decaying organic matter.
The adults and larvae are great bird food: in fact starlings and robins often completely control lawn populations. There are also a lot of other natural enemies of the larvae that attack them through winter (e.g. native nematodes, microorganisms, parasitoids, frogs, and small insectivorous mammals).
Numerous other common names have been applied to the crane fly, many of them more or less regional, including, mosquito hawks, mosquito eaters (or skeeter eaters), gallinippers, gollywhoppers, and jimmy spinners. In the United Kingdom they are commonly referred to as daddy long-legs.
Thi fellow is looking in the window.
septama has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

hi jim
very nice composition
beautiful abstraction !!

aleks ;)
bye

Hi Jim,
Nice and puzzling picture, unique angle of shot with the reflection from the window gave an artistic touch of it, not a beautiful insect though (more like a giant mosquito) but me and my daughter love it since it is harmless and easy to touch, I'm just a new resident in St John's and this kind of insect is of plenty in front of my apartment patio, TFS

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF