Limoniidae
Limoniidae is the largest of four crane fly families, with more than 10,700 species in more than 150 genera. Some studies have suggested it to be a paraphyletic group, with some limoniids being more closely related to Tipulidae and Cylindrotomidae than to other limoniids. Limoniid crane flies can usually be distinguished by the way the wings are held at rest. Limoniids usually hold/fold the wings along the back of the body, whereas other crane flies usually hold them out at right angles. Snow flies such as Chionea scita have no wings at all. Limoniids are also usually smaller than other crane flies, with some exceptions.
The classification of Limoniid crane flies has been varied in the past, with the group treated both as subfamily and family, but the following classification is currently accepted.. Recent phylogenetic analyses have revealed the family to be paraphyletic and further research is suggested.
;Family Limoniidae
These flies are found in damp places throughout the world, and many species form dense swarms in suitable habitats.
Description
Limoniids are medium or small-sized, rarely large. The proboscis or rostrum lacks a beak. The apical segment of the maxillary palpi is short and never longer than subapical one. The antennae are, in most species, 14- or 16-segmented, usually verticillate and only exceptionally ctenidial or serrate. There is a distinct V-shaped suture between the mesonotal prescutum and scutum. The wings are monochromatic or punctate and. sometimes shortened or reduced. The subcosta always fuses with the costa through Sc1. Radial vein R2 does not fuse with the costa, as in most other crane flies, but with radial vein R3. The radial sector Rs has one or two forks. Additional crossveins are sometimes present in cells r3 an1 and m. Cells m1 and d are often not present. The genitalia of males have large separated gonocoxis and one or two pairs of appendages which are sometimes greatly folded. The ovipositor of the female has sclerotized cerci.Biology
Mostly, larvae are aquatic or semi-aquatic. In comparison, most other Tipuloidea larvae are terrestrial, though some are aquatic and found in huge numbers in lotic habitats like the limoniid larvae. Various species have evolved to feed on different food sources, so phytophagous, saprophagous, mycetophagous and predatory species occur.Limoniids occupy a wide range of habitats and micro habitats: in earth rich in humus, in swamps and marshes, in leaf litter and in wet spots in woods ; in soils with only moderate humus content along stream borders ; in dry to saturated decaying wood in streams, where the larvae feed on fungal mycelia ; in decaying plant materials, in woody and fleshy fungi ; in fresh water, especially rapidly flowing streams ; intertidal zones and brackish water ; steep cliff faces supporting a constantly wet film of algae ; in moist to wet cushions of mosses or liverworts growing on rocks or earth.
Phantolabis lacustris was the first tipuloid species to be observed skating on the surface of water. It possesses morphological adaptations to allow for this phenomenon.
Species lists
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Evolution