Tipuloidea (crane ies) is one of the most species-rich groups of Diptera, including over 15,000 species worldwide, with a wide variety of habitats. However, relatively less attention has been paid to the larvae of crane y in contrast to the better-known adults. In this study, Tipula (Pterelachisus) cinereocincta mesacantha Alexander, 1934 is added into the fauna of China, which larvae were found beneath a piece of moss in a forest of eastern Liaoning. The external structures of the larva are described thoroughly with light microscopic illustrations. Meanwhile, with scanning electron microscopy, more detailed structures of the larval head capsule, the antenna and the mouthparts, are rstly present for the larvae of Tipula (Pterelachisus). Some microscopic structures, including the paired peg-like sensilla on the central teeth of epipharynx, and a pair of cushiony lobes anterior to the teeth, are newly recorded for the crane y larva. Morphological differences and variations of the larval structures between T. (P.) cinereocincta mesacantha and its related species or genera are discussed. The discovery would provide new data and insights for the further research on the taxonomy and phylogeny, as well as some evidences of the biology and adaption of crane y larvae.

The subgenus Vestiplex of the genus Tipula is one of the most species-rich groups in the family Tipulidae. Here, we present the first mitochondrial genome of the subgenus Vestiplex. The nearly complete mitochondrial genome of Tipula aestiva Savchenko, 1960 (Genbank accession number: OM287601) was 16083 bp in length and consisted of 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA and two rRNA genes. The phylogenetic the tree of family Tipulidae was reconstructed based on 13 PCGs sequences using the maximum likelihood method. The result strongly supported the monophyly of the family Tipulidae. The subgenus Vestiplex is indicated as the sister group of subgenera Pterelachisus and Formotipula .