Thursday 25 September 2014

Invasion

Many will have noticed the emergence of Crane Flies (Daddy Long-legs). This year they are particularly numerous. There are scores of them hunting round the nettles on the edge of the cricket field. They are harmless to humans and pets though they can be a nuisance when they come indoors. Fortunately for us they only live about two weeks, just long enough to mate and lay eggs but are a good supply of food for many birds.

This one was resting on my kitchen window:

Crane Fly DSCN3475

They have one pair of wings. Instead of the second pair they have a pair of halteres or rocker arms just behind the wings which vibrate and help to maintain balance when flying. They are the two club shaped bits with round 'weights' on the end:

Crane Fly DSCN3475

As I opened the back door yesterday this green Shield Bug fell on the floor:

Green Shield Bug DSCN3479

Photos taken with the Nikon Coolpix S9050

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful shots of the crane fly. I've not seen many this year.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Adrian. More that our fair share here at the moment.

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  2. Great detail on the Crane Fly John. Never really looked at them that close before to notice it so much.

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    1. Roy. Thanks. Often it's only when I enlarge photos that I notice that sort of detail.

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  3. both are neat looking creatures. :)

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    1. TWG. I like to see the shield bugs as they seem to be hard to spot.

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  4. Never noticed those rocker arms before. Usually too busy swatting them out of the way. Got loads around here at the moment.

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    Replies
    1. Keith. I knew there were a group of two winged flies with rocker arms but this was the first time I managed to show them clearly.

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Thank you for visiting. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Any comment, or correction to any information or identification I get wrong, is most welcome. John

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