Tipula

Tipula is a genus of insects in the family Tipulidae, order Diptera, commonly referred to as crane flies. It is one of the largest genera within Tipulidae and includes hundreds of species distributed worldwide. Adults resemble large, delicate mosquitoes with long legs and slender bodies; despite the resemblance, most species do not bite humans.

Adult Tipula flies typically have long wings held flat or slightly apart when at rest. They generally have reduced mouthparts and many species feed little or not at all in the adult stage, surviving on stored energy from the larval phase. Adults are mostly seen in warm, humid conditions during their brief emergence periods, often around vegetation and wetlands.

The life cycle begins with eggs laid in moist soil or in water. The larvae, commonly called leatherjackets, are slender, legless or nearly so, and feed on roots, grasses, decaying vegetation, and organic matter. They can take one to several years to develop, depending on species and environment, before pupating in the soil. Adults emerge for a short period to mate and lay eggs, after which the cycle repeats.

Tipula species inhabit diverse habitats, especially moist meadows, marshes, and turf areas. They occur in temperate and tropical regions across the globe. Ecologically, larvae play a role in decomposition and soil turnover, while adults serve as prey for a variety of predators. Some species, such as Tipula oleracea and Tipula paludosa, are noted as turf pests due to larval feeding on roots and crowns of grasses.