Nephrotoma lugens confirmation needed please

[pilonm]

Hi,

I took those pictures of what I think is a Nephrotoma lugens. As you can see, one wing is missing... Have I identified it correctly? If I'm right, is there an english name for that insect?

http://parcours.pilonm.org/pictures/inconnu10.jpg
http://parcours.pilonm.org/pictures/inconnu11.jpg
http://parcours.pilonm.org/pictures/inconnu12.jpg

Thank you very much in advance,

_____________________________

Michel
Fleurimont
Mes Parcours Nature:
http://parcours.pilonm.org

[pilonm]

Oups! I forgot to tell you that I took the pictures on the grass in my backyard in Quebec Canada.

Thank you!

[John Apple]

Yes that is what you have there and it is a female by the way :)
The males have a sort of hook like thing on the end of the abdomen that gives this predator it's common name of scorpion fly.

[ms_ramie22]

i have seen these before. You call it a predator, what exactly do they eat or stalk?

[John Apple]

They eat small flying insects that they catch on the fly or by hanging and letting the other four legs do the grasping, and the males will give the female a food gift to keep from getting eaten themselves when copulating.
Another common name is the crane fly
take care

[pilonm]

Hello John,

On another entomologist forum I received a message saying that the insect I photographied was not a N. lugens for the thorax and abdomen of N. lugens is black and yellow. He said also that it should be a yellow "V" on the thorax.
He directed me to that picture:
http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/29-diptera/nephrotoma_lugens.htm

What do you think of that. Do you maintain the id for N. lugens?

Thank you very much in advance,

Michel
Quebec Canada
http://parcours.pilonm.org

[pilonm]

Hello John,

On another entomologist forum I received a message saying that the insect I photographied was not a N. lugens for the thorax and abdomen of N. lugens is black and yellow. He said also that it should be a yellow "V" on the thorax.
He directed me to that picture:
http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/...toma_lugens.htm

What do you think of that. Do you maintain the id for N. lugens?

Thank you very much in advance,

Michel
Quebec Canada
http://parcours.pilonm.org

[John Apple]

Hmmmm...not being an entomologist myself and being a hobbyist and overall bug lover I would have to agree with his assumption :) I am by no means allways right and my knowledge is general at best.
good call on the ID to you buddy , but it is at least a predator :raspberry
Nice photo ID