Papua-Insects.nl
The Papua Insects Foundation
about
us: 
The Craneflies (Diptera: Tipuloidea) of Papua Indonesia
by Pjotr Oosterbroek
Craneflies are small to very large, slender insects with long legs, elongated wings and narrow abdomen, characterized by having two anal veins reaching the margin of the wing. Adults are harmless, their mouthparts are largely reduced, so they do not feed (or sting). They can be a nuisance when they enter homes but really do not harm and only come inside because they are attracted to light. Males of certain species are often found in swarms.
Larvae are elongate cylindrical with a tough cuticle. They are usually found in various aquatic or semi-aquatic environments during most of their development, moving to margins or dryer places for pupation. Most larvae feed on decaying plant material, many Limoniinae feed on algae and the like, fungi, or fungal mycelia; most Limnophilinae are carnivorous. The most general larval habitat is more or less wet, organic soil or decaying vegetation in or along streams, lakes, swamps, marshes, and woodlands. Other habitats include drier soils, brackish habitats, intertidal zones, mosses or liverworts, decaying wood or sodden logs in streams, sandy or gravelly borders of streams, woody of fleshy fungi. Larvae of most Limoniidae construct a silken tube or cocoon for the pupae.
The ecological importance of the group is evident because they help to break down dead plant material (detritus), especially dead leaves and stems. Larvae as well as adults are also an important food source for other animals.
Worldwide there are over 15,000 described species; in Papua Indonesia some 250. A survey of all Wold species and their distribution can be found in the online Catalogue of the Craneflies of the World.
Recorded families are Cylindrotomidae, Limoniidae and Tipulidae
Listed Papua species: 248 [202 endemic species and 9 endemic subspecies for Papua]
Stibadocerinae
Stibadocera Enderlein, 1912
nana Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
perangusta Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
Chioneinae
Amphineurus Skuse, 1890
sg. Amphineurus Skuse, 1890polycyclus Alexander, 1961
Erioptera Meigen, 1803
sg. Erioptera Meigen, 1803scolostyla Alexander, 1962
Gonomyia Meigen, 1818
sg. Gonomyia Meigen, 1818irianensis Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
sg. Leiponeura Skuse, 1890
aegina Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
basicuspis Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
bicircularis Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
biserpentigera Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
cryophila Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
fuscofemorata Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
monura Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
ocypete Alexander, 1948
ophion Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
perpicta Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
pleurostriata Alexander, 1936
recurvispina Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
siculifera Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
sparsipuncta Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
Idiocera Dale, 1842
sg. Idiocera Dale, 1842impavida (Alexander, 1948) [endemic]
Molophilus Curtis, 1833
sg. Molophilus Curtis, 1833archboldeanus Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
celaenoleucus Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
ctenistes Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
fustiferus Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
gressittianus Alexander, 1961
habbemae Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
intactus Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
lieftincki Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
perhirtipes Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
profligatus Alexander, 1961
promeces Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
protervus Alexander, 1961
stylopappus Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
subvinnulus Alexander, 1973 [endemic]
toxopeanus Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
triepiurus Alexander, 1961
turritus Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
Styringomyia Loew, 1845
didyma Grimshaw, 1901
ensiferoides Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
fumitergata Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
multisetosa Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
phallosomica Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
platystyla Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
setifera Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
Tasiocera Skuse, 1890
sg. Tasiocera Skuse, 1890apheles Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
wilhelminae Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
Teucholabis Osten Sacken, 1860
sg. Teucholabis Osten Sacken, 1860aspilota Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
seticosta Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
walkeriana Alexander, 1953 [endemic]
Limnophilinae
Austrolimnophila Alexander, 1920
sg. Austrolimnophila Alexander, 1920accola Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
amatrix Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
croceipennis Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
cyclopica Alexander, 1947 [endemic]
dislocata Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
eucharis Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
excelsior Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
japenensis Alexander, 1947 [endemic]
jobiensis Alexander, 1947 [endemic]
laetabunda Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
linae Alexander, 1947 [endemic]
multitergata Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
polydamas Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
superstes Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
terpsis Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
trifidula Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
wilhelminae Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
Conosia Wulp, 1880
irrorata (Wiedemann, 1828)
ssp. irrorata (Wiedemann, 1828)Epiphragma Osten Sacken, 1860
sg. Epiphragma Osten Sacken, 1860insperatum Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
sg. Eupolyphragma Alexander, 1948
joculator Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
multiplex Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
sg. Parepiphragma Alexander, 1960
perideles Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
sg. Uncertain
infractum Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
Gynoplistia Westwood, 1835
sg. Gynoplistia Westwood, 1835achlys Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
bispica Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
chalybeata Alexander, 1947 [endemic]
cyanoceps Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
decacantha Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
echionis Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
flavizona Alexander, 1948
ssp. intuta Alexander, 1948 [endemic]fulviceps Walker, 1861 [endemic]
habbemae Alexander, 1959
ssp. habbemae Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
ssp. perdistincta Alexander, 1959 [endemic]hera Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
insolita Walker, 1865 [endemic]
jocosa Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
klamonoensis Alexander, 1951 [endemic]
latibasalis Alexander, 1951 [endemic]
leptacantha Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
leto Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
lieftinckiana Alexander, 1951 [endemic]
longifurcula Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
metajucunda Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
monozostera Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
nivicola Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
occipitalis Meijere, 1913 [endemic]
parajucunda Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
peramoena Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
plumbeicolor Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
polycantha Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
rubribasis Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
scimitar Alexander, 1936
ssp. subscimitar Alexander, 1959 [endemic]toxopei Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
vigilans Alexander, 1951 [endemic]
waigeuensis Alexander, 1947 [endemic]
wilhelmina Alexander, 1959 [endemic]
xanthocera Alexander, 1947 [endemic]
Paralimnophila Alexander, 1921
sg. Papuaphila Alexander, 1947angusticincta Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
apicalis (Meijere, 1913) [endemic]
contingens (Walker, 1865) [endemic]
decorata Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
holoxantha Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
perdiffusa Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
selectissima (Walker, 1864) [endemic]
sponsa Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
terminalis (Walker, 1861) [endemic]
toxopeana Alexander, 1960 [endemic]
sg. Paralimnophila Alexander, 1921
isolata (Alexander, 1947) [endemic]
Limoniinae
Achyrolimonia Alexander, 1965
brunneilata (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
Atypophthalmus Brunetti, 1911
sg. Atypophthalmusinfixus (Walker, 1861)
Dapanoptera Westwood, 1881
auroatra (Walker, 1864) [endemic]
candidata (Alexander, 1942)
ssp. candidata (Alexander, 1942) [endemic]carolina (Edwards, 1932) [endemic]
fascipennis Meijere, 1913 [endemic]
latifascia (Walker, 1865) [endemic]
meijereana (Alexander, 1942)
percelestis (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
perdecora (Walker, 1861)
plenipennis (Walker, 1865) [endemic]
toxopaeana (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
versteegi Meijere, 1915 [endemic]
virago (Alexander, 1959)
Dicranomyia Stephens, 1829
sg. Dicranomyia Stephens, 1829encharis (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
guttula Alexander, 1915
nephelia (Alexander, 1978) [endemic]
niveifusca (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
punctulatina (Alexander, 1960) [endemic]
sg. Euglochina Alexander, 1921
invocata (Alexander, 1948) [endemic]
novaeguineae Meijere, 1915
ssp. novaeguineae Meijere, 1915 [endemic]sg. Idioglochina Alexander, 1921
debeauforti Meijere, 1913
Discobola Osten Sacken, 1865
calamites (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
Elephantomyia Osten Sacken, 1860
sg. Elephantomyia Osten Sacken, 1860filiform (Walker, 1865) [endemic]
niveipes Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
Geranomyia Haliday, 1833
atychia (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
conjurata (Alexander, 1937)
ssp. nelites (Alexander, 1960) [endemic]
dicranostyla (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]hedosyne (Alexander, 1961) [endemic]
Helius Lepeletier & Serville, 1828
sg. Helius Lepeletier & Serville, 1828subanaemicus Alexander, 1964
sg. Rhampholimnobia Alexander, 1915
bigeminatus Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
diffusus Alexander, 1941
fenestratus Alexander, 1973 [endemic]
japenensis Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
nimbus Alexander, 1941
subreticulatus Alexander, 1962
sg. Rhyncholimonia Alexander, 1964
dicroneurus Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
Lechria Skuse, 1890
angustaxillaris Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
delicatior Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
Libnotes Westwood, 1876
sg. Laosa Edwards, 1926joculator (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
pavo (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
suffalcata (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
sg. Libnotes Westwood, 1876
alternimacula (Alexander, 1962) [endemic]
archboldeana (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
depicta (Alexander, 1942) [endemic]
elachista (Alexander, 1971)
fastosa (Alexander, 1959)
ssp. fastosa (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
ssp. spinteris (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
invicta (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]nerissa (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
philemon (Alexander, 1962) [endemic]
praeculta (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
punctatissima Meijere, 1915 [endemic]
quadrifurca (Walker, 1861) [endemic]
strigivena (Walker, 1861)
subocellata (Alexander, 1959) [endemic]
tibiocincta (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
trisignata (Walker, 1865) [endemic]
Limonia Meigen, 1803
alienata Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
dipinax Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
edax Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
Orimarga Osten Sacken, 1869
sg. Orimarga Osten Sacken, 1869soluta Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
spiloptera Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
Rhipidia Meigen, 1818
sg. Rhipidia Meigen, 1818dione (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
Thrypticomyia Skuse, 1890
arcus (Alexander, 1964) [endemic]
carissa (Alexander, 1948) [endemic]
Toxorhina Loew, 1850
sg. Ceratocheilus Wesche, 1910gressitti Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
hoogstraali Alexander, 1948
imperatrix Alexander, 1948
nympha Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
tenebrica Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
toxopeana Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
trichopyga Alexander, 1962 [endemic]
sg. Toxorhina Loew, 1850
basalis Alexander, 1951 [endemic]
digitifera Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
megatricha Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
pulvinaria Alexander, 1950
Trentepohlia Bigot, 1854
sg. Mongoma Westwood, 1881amissa Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
australasiae Skuse, 1890
elegantissima Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
ibelensis Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
macrotrichia Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
obscura (Meijere, 1913) [endemic]
parallela Alexander, 1951
pennipes (Osten Sacken, 1888)
spinaspersa Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
subappressa Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
tenuicercus Alexander, 1964 [endemic]
sg. Trentepohlia Bigot, 1854
abronia Alexander, 1973 [endemic]
fuscomedia Alexander, 1973 [endemic]
limata Alexander, 1973 [endemic]
pictipennis Bezzi, 1916
trentepohlii (Wiedemann, 1828)
Trichoneura Loew, 1850
sg. Trichoneura Loew, 1850umbrosa Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
Brachypremna Osten Sacken, 1887
waigeuensis Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
Dolichopeza Curtis, 1825
sg. Dolichopeza Curtis, 1825anthema Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
bibasis Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
distivena Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
mongas Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
nokensis Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
setistyla Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
thiasus Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
thysbe Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
sg. Nesopeza Alexander, 1914
jobiensis Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
praesultator Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
Holorusia Loew, 1863
borneensis (Brunetti, 1918)
novaeguineae (Meijere, 1913)
umbrina (Wiedemann, 1828)
Nephrotoma Meigen, 1803
atrohirsuta Alexander, 1973 [endemic]
colorata (Walker, 1865)
dimidiata (Meijere, 1904)
speculata (Meijere, 1913)
tripartita (Walker, 1861) [endemic]
walkeri Oosterbroek, 1986 [endemic]
Scamboneura Osten Sacken, 1882
curtistyla (Alexander, 1971) [endemic]
tagensis Alexander, 1961 [endemic]
Tipula Linnaeus, 1758
sg. Papuatipula Alexander, 1935consiliosa Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
cyclopica Alexander, 1948 [endemic]
divergens Meijere, 1913 [endemic]
gressittiana Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
lieftincki Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
meijereana Alexander, 1935
nokicola Alexander, 1953 [endemic]
omissinervis (Meijere, 1906)
pensilis Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
satirica Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
staryi Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
strictistyla Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
toxopeina Alexander, 1971 [endemic]
sg. (unplaced)
demeijerei Edwards, 1915 [endemic]
tropica Meijere, 1913
updated on 3 April 2006
Literature
Oosterbroek, P., 1989. Familie Tipulidae. In: Evenhuis, N.L. (ed.), Catalog of the Diptera of Australasia and Oceania. Bishop Museum Special Publication 86: 53-116. [= Tipulidae sensu lato, includes all three families.]
