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Marsh Crane Fly (Tipula oleracea) & Spotted Crane Fly (Nephrotoma appendiculata)

These two crane flies, are two species that appear during April. With it’s dark brown front to the wing and its large size Marsh Crane Fly (Tipula oleracea) is a common enough species, but a new one for my garden none-the-less (#565). This species has two generations in a year, the first in April-June and the second in August-October. The glossy black coloration on the thorax of this individual is a little unusual; not sure what has caused that. The Spotted Crane Fly (Nephrotoma appendiculata, #230) is the commonest “tiger” crane fly in April/May - so called because of the yellow and black marks on the thorax. Both of them live in grassy fields with their leather-jacket ;larvae munching the roots.