Eocene Green River Crane Fly IF-PCM-16-037

Tipula sp.
Green River Formation
Parachute Creek Member
Middle Eocene
Uintah County, Utah

This is a nice example of the Crane Fly Tipula sp. (Scudder).  Both wings have good detail and the thorax is well preserved.  No legs are visible.
Crane fly is a common name referring to any member of the insect family Tipulidae, of the order Diptera, true flies in the superfamily Tipuloidea. Cylindrotominae, Limoniinae, and Pediciinae have been ranked as subfamilies of Tipulidae by most authors, though occasionally elevated to family rank. In the most recent classifications, only Pediciidae is now ranked as a separate family, due to considerations of paraphyly.  Crane flies are found worldwide, though individual species usually have limited ranges. They are most diverse in the tropics and are also common in northern latitudes and high elevations.  The Tipulidae is one of the largest groups of flies, including over 15,000 species and subspecies in 525 genera and subgenera.