Crane Fly (Tipula oleracea)

If you think identifying little brown birds is difficult, there are far more taxing issues! Once you have sorted out Common Milkwort from Chalk Milkwort have a go at crane flies ...

Tipula oleracea has 13 segments in its antennae and Tipula paludosa has 14! Otherwise they are 'very alike'.

The thing is, though, that physical features are not the only guide and we often forget that. T. oleracea is around between April and October and T. paludosa from, errr, April to October. However, T. oleracea is abundabt in May and June whereas T. paludosa is abundant in the autumn.

As a result, I can be fairly certain that this is Tipula oleracea and not Tipula paludosa even though I cannot clearly see the number of segments in the antennae.

If anyone wishes to query my judgement then go ahead but be sure of your facts!

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