Tiger Cranefly
TQ4793 05/05/2019 ©Raymond Small
Nephrotoma appendiculata
This species has a yellow body with a wide dark stripe on the dorsal surface of the abdomen and black stripes on the thorax. There is a black horseshoe mark on the thorax side between the wing base and the haltere. This species is found in rough grassland from April until July. There are similar-looking species, but N. appendiculata is without doubt the commonest 'tiger' during the months of April and May with numbers peaking in May. Adults feed on Cow Parsley and other umbellifers. Larvae feed on grass roots.
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