Cranefly
TQ4792 29/09/2018 ©Raymond Small
Tipula lateralis
Tipula lateralis is usually found flying from March to October near water. The larvae are semi-aquatic and feed on decaying plants at the bottom of lakes, ponds and streams. Adults (20mm length) and have a light line running down the back of the abdomen, untypical of most other British species that normally have a dark line. A second characteristic is a black line starting just behind the eyes and running over the thorax. There are also distinctive dark veins on the wings. This is the only common species with all these combined features.
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