Nephrotoma (Tiger) Crane Flies Nephrotoma species

The Nephrotoma species of Crane Fly are called Tiger Crane Flies because of their bold, striped markings, often black on yellow. They are medium-sized, smaller than most Tipula but larger than the Lemonia species. Female Crane Flies, above left, have pointed tails for laying eggs in the ground. Crane Fly larvae are the hated Leatherjackets which live underground eating plant roots.

N. quadrifaria, is one of the few Tiger Craneflies with a common name: the Fourspot Tiger Cranefly. It grows 12-15mm long, with a similar wing length and is distinguished mainly by the black stigmata spots on the wings and the shadows along the adjacent wing veins. Its UK flight time is May to August. The female with a pointed ovipositor is shown in the top row and the male above.

N. flavipalpis, one of the Tiger Craneflies, has tiger-like black striped markings on yellow on its body and thorax and a distinctive yellow or orange head. It grows 12-18mm long, has black stigmata spots on the wings and is native to woods and hedgerows of much of Europe. Its UK flight time is July to October. Shown is the female with a pointed ovipositor.

N. flavescens, called the Tiger Cranefly (although all in the genus are also called Tigers), has a thin, usually broken, dark line on its yellow body and grows to 18mm long.

N. appendiculata, called the Spotted (Tiger) Cranefly, has a continuous dark line along its body and a black horseshoe mark on the side of the thorax. It grows to 15mm long and is in flight April to July in the UK. Thanks to Martin Starnes for the photos of this species.