LIMONIID CRANE FLY
Erioptera venusta
LIMONIID CRANE FLY FAMILY (Limoniidae)
A small crane fly about 3/8 inch (9 mm) long with yellow halteres. Wings are yellowish with two broad brown bands, the inner band not reaching the costa and the larger outer band covering the entire width of the wing. Legs are long and yellowish with brown band near the knees. The thorax and abdomen are dark brown. The eyes are large for a small head.
This crane fly is considered to be common in grass-sedge marshes and along sluggish streams. It occurs from Nebraska east into northeast U.S. and south into the carolinas. The individual shown was photographed in August 2017 as it was attracted to moth lights.
There are about 900 species in 70 genera in the family Limoniidae in North America and about 90 species in the genus Erioptera. Larvae develop in saturated soil along streams. Adults are found in low vegetation near water.
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