Tipulidae
Tipulidae is a family of large crane flies in the order Diptera. There are more than 30 genera and 4,200 described species in Tipulidae, common and widespread throughout the world.
A crane fly can be identified as a member of Tipulidae by its maxillary palps, which is the pair of appendages that hang down from the front of its head. If the fourth segment of the maxillary palp is longer than the other three combined, then it is likely to be a member of Tipulidae. There are also usually 13 segments in the antennae of large crane flies, compared to 14 or 16 in the common limoniid crane flies.
The oldest fossils that can be assigned confidently to Tipulidae sensu stricto are those of the genus Tipunia, which date to the Late Jurassic.
Genera
These 39 genera belong to the family Tipulidae:Acracantha Skuse, 1890Angarotipula Savchenko, 1961Austrotipula Alexander, 1920Brachypremna Osten Sacken, 1886Brithura Edwards, 1916Clytocosmus Skuse, 1890Ctenophora Meigen, 1803Dictenidia Brullé 1833Dolichopeza Curtis, 1825Elnoretta Alexander, 1929Euvaldiviana Alexander, 1981Goniotipula Alexander, 1921Holorusia LoewHovapeza Alexander, 1951Hovatipula Alexander, 1955Idiotipula Alexander, 1921Indotipula Edwards, 1931Ischnotoma Skuse, 1890Keiseromyia Alexander, 1963Leptotarsus Guerin-meneville, 1838Macgregoromyia Alexander, 1929Maekistocera Wiedemann, 1821Nephrotoma Meigen, 1803 Nigrotipula Hudson & Vane-Wright, 1969Orithea Meigen, 1800Ozodicera Macquart, 1834Phoroctenia Coquillett, 1910Platyphasia Skuse, 1890Prionocera Loew, 1844Prionota van der Wulp, 1885Pselliophora Osten-Sacken, 1887Ptilogyna Westwood, 1835Scamboneura Osten Sacken, 1882Sphaerionotus de Meijere, 1919Tanyptera Latreille, 1804Tipula Linnaeus, 1758Tipulodina Enderlein, 1912Valdiviana Alexander, 1929Zelandotipula Alexander, 1922
Ecology
Most crane fly larvae are saprophagous, feeding on microbe-rich organic matter, typically decaying plant material in moist environments. However, some species are predacious, fungivorous, or phytophagous. Certain groups have adapted to extreme habitats, including caves, marine intertidal zones, and deserts, although the majority inhabit humid forests and wetlands.