#gollywhopper

[jenfoundabug]

Female crane fly (family Tipulidae) laying eggs. I knew some species lay eggs in soil, but wasn’t expecting it to look this silly 😆

While most crane fly adults don’t feed (they’re not giant mosquitoes!), most larvae eat dead plant matter. Larvae are an important part of the soil ecosystem because they convert organic matter into nutrients that plants and other life forms can use. Crane flys are also an important food source at all stages of their life for everything from spiders to song birds.

[mrminty]

Who needs Alien.

Tipulidae close up.

[jenfoundabug]

Gorgeous tiger crane fly (likely Nephrotoma suturalis wulpiana) I found on my window. I love the colors.

Northern California