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Glite Dictionary
Tipulidae

Tipulidae

9.9
Large insects with very long legs that look like giant mosquitoes but do not bite
  • noun
  • /ˌtɪpjuˈleɪdiː/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Tipúlidos
  • The Tipulidae family includes many species of crane flies.

Examples

  • The Tipulidae are easily recognized by their long legs and slender bodies.

  • Gardeners often mistake Tipulidae for giant mosquitoes, but they do not bite.

  • Scientists studied the life cycle of several Tipulidae species found in wetlands.

  • Look at that Tipulidae!

  • Gardeners often mistake Tipulidae for giant mosquitoes, but they do not bite.

  • The Tipulidae are easily recognized by their long legs and slender bodies.

  • Scientists studied the life cycle of several Tipulidae species found in wetlands.

Synonyms

daddy longlegs
vsTipulidae
  • US
1 3.6

A large fly with very long legs that looks like a mosquito but does not bite

is the broader scientific family name for these similar nonbiting flies
crane fly
vsTipulidae
5.6

A long thin fly with very long legs that looks like a large mosquito but does not bite

is the family term that groups these long legged nonbiting insects

Surface Forms

Tipulidae singular
Tipulidaes plural

Morphology

Tipulidae = Tipula (opaque) = Tipul + idae

The formation uses a specialized taxonomic suffix ('-idae') that is not productive or familiar to average learners, so the family meaning is not derivable without biological knowledge.

Etymology

Tipulidae comes from the older name Tipula, a Latin word for a kind of 'small fly', plus the ending -idae which marks a 'family' or group of related animals. So Tipulidae is the family name for crane flies — the long-legged insects that look like big mosquitoes but do not bite.