Nephrotoma cornicina


Nephrotoma cornicina is a species of fly in the family Tipulidae.

Subspecies

Subspecies include:
  • Nephrotoma cornicina cornicina
  • Nephrotoma cornicina sardiniensis Oosterbroek, 1978

Distribution

This species is widely distributed in the Palearctic realm. It can be found in most of Europe, in the European Russia, in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Japan, China, India, Pakistan, in the Nearctic realm, and in the Near East.

Habitat

These flies mainly inhabit turf grass and hedge rows.

Description

Nephrotoma cornicina can reach a body length of and a wing length of. On the wings the stigma is quite small, brown or black, clearly distinct. These flies have slender-bodies, with elongate an rather narrow wings and very long and slender legs. Ocelli are absent and the occipital mark is black. Flagellum is entirely black. Abdomen is mainly yellow, with a dark median stripe, sometimes absent on tergites 6 and 7. In males sternite 8 shows a straight rather long appendage directed at caudal margin. Tergite 9 is short and rather broad, swollen and rounded towards sides. The females have a pointed shiny brown ovipositor with a black basal half, for laying eggs into the ground.

Biology

Adults can be found from late April to mid-September. They feed on nectar of Taraxacum officinale and Anthriscus sylvestris.