Stats

Lifespan: Annual
Size: Large
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Crepuscular
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: South America
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Rare

About

This crane fly lives among damp moss and decaying wood in forest shadows. Its six spindly legs detach easily to distract predators while it escapes unharmed.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tipulidae
Genus: Zelandotipula