Nephrotoma appendiculata

Subspecies include:^[3]

• Nephrotoma appendiculata appendiculata (Pierre, 1919) (Northwestern Europe and the Near East)
• Nephrotoma appendiculata pertenua Oosterbroek, 1978 (Southwestern Europe and North Africa)

This species is present in most of Europe, in North Africa and in the Near East.^[4] Some in Southern Alberta Canada.

These crane flies inhabit woodland edges, gardens, fields, rough grassland, and farmland.^[5][6]

Nephrotoma appendiculata has a wingspan of about 50 mm (2.0 in),^[5] and a body length of 13–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in).^[6][7] The body is yellow with a few short, black stripes on the thorax, a black horseshoe mark on the side^[6] and a broad dark stripe^[6] on each section of the abdomen. The wings have a thin, yellow line near the leading edge.^[5] The wing stigma is usually pale, but sometimes it is dark.^[6]

This species is rather similar to Nephrotoma flavescens.^[6]

Adults can be seen from April to August.^[6][7] The larvae, known as "leatherjackets",^[5] feed on the roots of grasses,^[6][7] while the adults feed on umbellifers such as cow parsley.^[6][7]

• 
  Mating
• 
  Male
• 
  Female
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  Wing detail