2023 December 4

Aziza Cooper sends photographs of two insects from the front door of the Swan Lake Nature House, December 3.

The first is a crane fly, Family Tipulidae.  The best known crane fly is probably the introduced European Tipula paludosa.  There are many quite small tipulids that can be difficult to distinguish from winter gnats (Trichoceridae).  T. paludosa is not the only large one – several local ones are at least as large, or larger, and quite handsome.   Aziza’s is one of the large ones, and, I think it may be said, a handsome one.   If anyone can identify it, please do let us know.

Crane Fly  (Dip.: Tipulidae)  Aziza Cooper

The second is a fresh and rather well-marked European Winter Moth Operophtera brumata.  This species varies a lot as to how well-marked it is.  Many are fairly bland, such as the ones shown on November 23 and November 10.  Can we say that Aziza’s one, like her crane fly, is a handsome one?

Winter Moth Operophtera brumata (Lep.: Geometridae)  Aziza Cooper