A face even it's mother probably couldn't love!

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:58 am

This is a species of cranefly that is quite common here in the NW. They are large and gangly, and fly around as if they were intoxicated. Once they get in my house their sole purpose in life becomes harassing me.... they drop down on my book after hitting the overhead reading light, bounce around off the computer screen, and at night when you are trying to sleep, you think the world's largest mosquito is trying to get at you!

Zeiss 2.5X Plan, Olympus 2.5X photoeyepiece. Canon 10D. Fiber optic illuminator directed from above, with some condenser "darkfield" thrown in for a lilltle "back-light". HF with a goodly number of images.

micron · Post by **micron** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 2:49 pm

Good one Charlie.

I have thought about imaging these characters but they are so ugly I could not get myself to take the picture!

Kenv · Post by **Kenv** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:53 pm

What Ron said is right Charlie, this is one ugly ugly face, a very courageous shot Charlie.
Kenv

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:05 pm

A very unusual image. That is one ugly insect. You almost feel a bit of compassion for it.

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:57 am

You shouldn't judge this crane fly for its looks! I am sure it has a great personality!

Did you try and capture the halteres, the rudimentary posterior wings on these flies?

Wim

lacerta · Post by **lacerta** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:37 am

It is the projecting mouth parts that really give this guy some character. Do craneflies even feed as adults ?? I know some ephemoral forms such as mayflies don't eat as adults. They are not Diptera with characteristic halteres as Vim mentioned, but do they also bear vestigial mouthparts ?
George

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:24 am

Wim... funny you should mention the halteres, it was the first thing I looked at and photographed... guess I'll post them now!

George... The halteres on these guys are quite large. I've read that the adult feeding situation is not well known, although some cranefly species apparently do sip flower nectar.