This crane fly is approximately 1 inch (25 mm) in length. The top of the thorax is tan-colored. The long cylindrical abdomen is also tan. The wings are long with showy black and white markings and are sometimes held out to the side when the fly is at rest. The eyes are black, and the antennae are dark brown and curved. The legs are brown and very long. This crane fly was identified by volunteer experts at BugGuide.
This crane fly is common in this area. It has been photographed in Fontenelle Forest in April and May.
These large flies are often mistaken for giant mosquitoes, but they are harmless and do not bite. They can also be mistaken for Hanging Flies which have 4 wings instead of 2. Tipula is a large genus with over 480 species in North America.
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