Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tipula(?), Sussex.
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 01-04-2012 19:10
#1
I am labouring under the delusion that coastal habitats have less species than elsewhere, and hoping that it's choice of habitat makes it identifiable.
Flew out of marram on middle-aged sand dunes (grey dunes? Were succeeding nicely until the council, in their wisdom, decided that natural systems must be static), sandwiched between younger dunes and saltmarsh.
East Head, West Wittering, West Sussex (UK).
Probably 2-3cm or thereabouts excluding legs and wings.
29 March 2012
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 01-04-2012 19:11
#2
(It did have full length legs etc, but thought it more important to show body in relatively high detail, so cut out as much as I could)
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 06-05-2012 21:05
#3
Am I to take it there's a large number of large Tipula associated with sand dunes?
Posted by clovis on 07-05-2012 20:57
#4
I really have no idea!
It is the subgenus Tipula, 3 species in england. I don't think this is paluda, so there is two left...
Posted by Will van Niekerk on 12-05-2012 11:48
#5
Looking up the subgenus, I think I do see only 13 segments, and time of year seems to suggest that it wouldn't be subcunctans, whereas it's only a little early for oleracea. Also subcunctans seems to have wholly black legs, whereas oleracea, paludosa and this one have dark knees on reddish-brown legs.
Is it reasonable to go with oleracea, do you suppose?