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Nephrotoma flavipalpis: the blonde palped cranefly

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Nephrotoma flavipalpis: the blonde palped cranefly

Nephrotoma flavipalpis is a fairly common species of crane fly found in damp woodlands and hedgerows which probably explains why I found on a hedgerow next to drainage channel on Wareham Common.  It is a little unusual in appearance as it rests with its wings back along its body whereas one associates crane flies with a resting posture with wings outstretched to the side, a bit like a dragonfly.

The head region is light in colour and the scientific name of flavipalpus is derived from this. Flavia means blonde or pale in colour and palps are a pair of elongated appendages found near the mouth which have various functions which include sensation, locomotion and feeding (thanks for that Wikipedia!). Flavipalpus, then, gives us blonde palps which you may just be able to discern from my photograph.


