Nephrotoma appendiculata

Subspecies include: [3]

• Nephrotoma appendiculata appendiculata (Pierre, 1919) (Northwestern Europe and the Near East)
• Nephrotoma appendiculata pertenua Oosterbroek, 1978 (Southwestern Europe and North Africa)

This species is present in most of Europe, in North Africa and in the Near East. [4]

These crane flies inhabit woodland edges, gardens, fields, rough grassland, and farmland. [5][6]

Nephrotoma appendiculata has a wingspan of about 50 mm (2.0 in),[5] and a body length of 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in).[6][7] The body is yellow with a few short, black stripes on the thorax , a black horseshoe mark on the side[6] and a broad dark stripe[6] on each section of the abdomen. The wings have a thin, yellow line near the leading edge.[5] The wing stigma is usually pale, but sometimes it is dark. [6]

This species is rather similar to Nephrotoma flavescens. [6]

Adults can be seen from April to August. [6][7] The larvae, known as "leatherjackets",[5] feed on the roots of grasses, [6][7] while the adults feed on umbellifers such as cow parsley. [6][7]

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  Mating
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  Male
• 
  Female
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  Wing detail

Media related to Nephrotoma appendiculata at Wikimedia Commons