Nephrotoma guestfalica

Nephrotoma guestfalica is a large fly of the genus Nephrotoma (Tiger Crane flies) and has a predominantly yellow lustre body with brown to black markings. Wings are transparent with dark brown pterostigma. Legs are yellow to yellowish-brown with dark brown tarsi.

Other species in the genus Nephrotoma.

• Long occipital marking from the neck to the frontal tubercle.
• 3-8 (<10) dark setae to the posterior margin of the squama of the wing.
• Yellow thorax, prescutum with three brownish black shining prescutal stripes, the medial being broad (actually a merger of a pair of medial stripes), lateral stripes anteriorly downcurved. Scutum with broad brownish-black lateral stripe. Scutellum yellowish-brown, with ill-defined brownish medial stripe.
• A narrow dark transverse marking to the posterior margin of abdominal tergite 1.
• Abdominal segments 1-6 yellowish brown, tergites and sternites with broad brownish medial with less distinct lateral markings forming broken stripes. Stripes may be less distinct towards end of abdomen.
• In males, abdominal segments 7&8 form a dark brownish-black ring with tergite 9 being yellowish-brown. In females, segment 7 is posteriorly dark brown, tergites 8 and 9 and anterior part of sternite 8 brownish-black. The ovipositor is yellowish-brown with large brown spots on sternite 8 in front of hypogynial valves.

Nephrotoma guestfalica has a preference for sandy soil especially river banks but can also be found in gardens parks and woodland.

Flight period is late May to October.

Nephrotoma guestfalica has a 3 stage life cycle:

Stage 1: Larva feed on decaying plant material in sandy soil.

Stage 2: Larvae develop into Pupae.

Stage 3: Adults emerge

Common. 

Rare or under-recorded.