A Year in the Valley

A Year in the Valley

Discovering the flora and fauna in a small square of Portmellon Valley

  • BioBlitz
  • The Rules
  • Tally
  • Map
  • Bird Page
  • Contact Form
  • Limonia Fly

    Limonia Fly

    I thought this fly looked very striking with its patterned wing markings, but I assumed it was a crane fly.  Not so.  These are related to the crane flies (Tipulidae) but can be distinguished by the way they hold their wings at rest.  Crane flies usually hold their wings outstretched, but limonia flies fold theirs along the back of their body.  Both only have fore wings; the hind wings are reduced to little knobbles.  Limonia flies also tend to have aquatic or semi-aquatic larvae, whereas Tipulidae have land-based larvae.  I think this is a Limonia nubedulosa because of the wing pattern, stripy legs, and brown head. 

    Daisy D

    27 April 2024
    Insects
    Crane Fly, Limonia Fly
  • Crane Fly

    Crane Fly

    This is a Crane Fly because the sepia-tinted wings have clearly defined black veins and the body is segmented translucent-brown and flared at the tip.  Other species of fly similar to crane flies have different body shapes, markings, and wings.  There are also sub-species.  This could be a Marsh Crane-fly.

    I thought it was a bit early for crane flies, as I associate them with early Autumn.  They are found near water, as they deposit their eggs in damp ground.  The larvae, which we know as ‘leatherjackets’ hatch out two weeks later and spend their lives feeding on the roots and stem bases of grasses and decaying plant matter right round till the following May-June.  Then they pupate in the soil, emerging from July to October to deposit their eggs within 24 hours, and only live for around two weeks.

    Q: If they love the dampness of damp areas, why do they come indoors? 

    A: Simply because, like other types of fly, they are attracted to light and warmth and once inside they find it difficult to work out how to get outside again.

    Daisy D

    16 July 2023
    Insects
    Crane Fly

©2023 All rights reserved.

  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • Spotted in September
  • Spotted in August
  • Spotted in July
  • Spotted in June
  • Conclusions