The wasp impostor: Capturing the brilliant polish of Teucholabis in La Perla

Teucholabis is a genus of small to medium-sized crane flies in the family Limoniidae, established in 1860 by the diplomat and entomologist Carl Robert Osten Sacken. Unlike many of their fragile, dull-colored relatives, Teucholabis species are highly polished and often sport bold black and yellow striping that closely mimics stinging insects. They frequently display striking wings cross-banded with brown—the second band lies across the cord, while the third sits at the wing tip. Their larvae are xylobionts, developing beneath bark among the bast fibers of decaying trees. I was incredibly lucky to cross paths with this vividly colored crane fly in the protected forest of La Perla. She allowed me to approach for just a few fleeting seconds, granting me the chance to immortalize her beauty in a few photographs.

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