As the nights start to draw in you might be treated to a visit by one of our most characteristic craneflies (often called Daddy Long-legs) - Meadow White-strip Tipula paludosa. This species has had a rather poor press as its larvae (along with other cranefly species) are called leatherjackets, but this one in particular eats the roots of grasses which can cause damage to lawns, but the large numbers required to cause significant damage seem to be a thing of the past. Which might well be bad news for the local mammal population as leatherjackets are preyed upon by Badgers, Hedgehogs and Foxes!

Whilst you’re marveling at how such an ungainly insect manages to even get off the ground, it’s amazing to know that there are over 350 different British species that also seem to defy the laws of aerodynamics! Around a 140 of the British list have been recorded from our area so far. 

This under-appreciated group of insects has some stunning species, perhaps the most spectacular to be found in our area is the wasp mimicking Wasp Banded Comb-horn Ctenophora flaveolata. This amazing looking beast has been found at both our Aldbury Nowers and Alpine Meadow Nature Reserves, it seems to be associated with old woodland, keep your eyes peeled in the spring to catch a glimpse of this one.

Topping the previous species for size is the appropriately named Giant Long-palp Tipula maxima with a wingspan of over 5cm this species is one of the Uks largest flies. It’s an insect associated with wet woodland and streams, head over to our Danemead Nature Reserve in spring and summer to stand a chance of seeing this species. 

One of my favourite species is the Large Ocelot Epiphragma ocellare found in woodland, its larvae are associated with dead wood. Whenever I see this one I wonder if its distinctive colour scheme and pattern was designed in the 1970s! We’ve records of this one from Gobions Wood and Danemead, but my hunch is that it’s present in most of our woodlands – so please let us know if you spot one – May and June are the best time to look.

If your enthusiasm for flies with long legs has been piqued and turfing Meadow-white stripes out of your home is not enough to satisfy, keep a look out for Winter Gnats over the Autumn, Winter and early Spring. The Banded Winter Gnat Trichocera annulata is the easiest of the species to recognize and is most common in the early autumn in woodlands and hedgerows, but also grasslands and gardens. It’s amazing that these creatures can fly when it’s too cold for most other species.

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