Bug FAQSixspot Cranefly
Limonia nubeculosa · Order: Diptera · Family: Limoniidae
The six-spot cranefly is about 9 to 11 mm long (0.35 to 0.43 in). Its wings show a dark band along the front edge and its femurs are yellow with three dark rings. It lives in European forests, sometimes gathering in large numbers in caves during summer, and flies from April to November.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The front edge of the wings has a dark pattern. The thigh segments of the legs are yellow and bear three dark rings.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure between 9 mm and 11 mm in body length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are found in forests across Europe. In summer they may aestivate in caves, where they can appear in large numbers.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are most common in central Europe and are active from April through November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Their native range is European forest habitats.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Limonia nubeculosa, also called the short-palped cranefly, belongs to the family Limoniidae.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Washington, California, Oregon, Alaska, Montana.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do their wings and legs look like?
The wings have a dark band on the front edge, and the thigh legs are yellow with three dark rings.
Source: Wikipedia
When are they active?
They fly from April to November, especially in central Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
Where do they live?
They live in European forests and may gather in caves during summer.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Limoniidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonia_nubeculosa
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.