Tipula maxima

Riesenschnake ( Tipula maxima)

The Riesenschnake ( Tipula maxima) is a mosquito of the family of crane flies ( Tipulidae ).

Features

The animals reach a body length of up to 40 millimeters, with a wingspan 33-65 mm, making them the largest of the native to Central Europe gnats. Her legs are also almost twice as long as the body. The wings have at the leading edge of three sharply defined, roughly triangular, brown spots on. At the rear of the wing are more indistinctly demarcated, gray spots. The hind wings are reduced to halteres ( halteres ). The animals have in addition to the compound eyes no simple eyes ( ocelli ). The abdomen is brown gray and carries on the sides dark spots. In females it is back tapering, ending in a ovipositor ( ovipositor ), the eggs are stored with the.

Occurrence

The giant crane flies are found in the temperate zones of Europe. They live in moist areas, such as around springs and streams. They are found predominantly in the mountains and are in places fairly abundant. They fly from May to July.

Way of life

The larvae are about 50 mm long and live near the banks of small streams in shallow water. The second generation overwinters in the fall.