Ptychopteridae

Ptychoptera albimana (Palearctic) has a mean of 554 eggs laid. The shape is slightly arcuated, "curiously ornamented", and roughly 0.8 mm × 0.2 mm (0.0315 in × 0.0079 in). Duration is reported at 7 days.

The larvae are eucephalous and distinctive for the long, caudal respiratory siphon they possess. At hatching, they measure just under 4 mm (0.16 in) in P. albimana, quickly growing to nearly 80 mm (3.1 in). They occur in moist habitats (described as "wet swales and meadows" for Ptychoptera; along lentic shorelines and alder swamps for Bittacomorpha) where they feed as collector-gatherers on decaying organic matter.

The pupae possess a single, greatly elongated spiracular horn protruding from their thoraces. In Ptychoptera and Bittacomorpha, the right horn is elongated; in Bittacomorphella, the left. Reported times spent in this stage vary from 5 to 12 days.

Ptychoptera quadrifasciata

The adults are found most often from late spring through to autumn in shaded, moist environs. Presumably, adults feed little, if at all. Two generations occur per year.

The common species of Eastern North America (Bittacomorpha clavipes) is known for the odd habit of spreading out its legs while flying, using expanded, trachea-rich tarsi to waft along on air currents.

Why they are called “phantom” crane flies: Their legs are thin and black with white sheaths near the tips, and when they fly under a shady tree, everything disappears except the white spots, appearing and disappearing like a “phantom”.

• Subfamily. †Eoptychopterinae Handlirsch 1906
  • †Architendipes Rohdendorf 1962 Dzhil Formation, Kyrgyzstan, Hettangian
  • †Doptychoptera Lukashevich 1998 Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian
  • †Eoptychoptera Handlirsch 1906 Dzhil Formation, Kyrgyzstan, Hettangian Charmouth Mudstone Formation, United Kingdom, Sinemurian, Green Series, Posidonia Shale, Germany, Toarcian Sagul Formation, Kyrgyzstan, Toarcian Itat Formation, Russia, Bajocian, Ortsog Formation, Mongolia, Bajocian, Daohugou, China, Callovian, Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Callovian/Oxfordian Khaya Formation, Russia, Tithonian Sharteg, Mongolia, Tithonian Lulworth Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian, Weald Clay, United Kingdom, Hauterivian, Las Hoyas, Spain, Barremian Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian, Crato Formation, Brazil, Aptian, Spanish amber, Albian
  • †Leptychoptera Lukashevich and Azar 2003 Lebanese amber, Barremian, Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
  • †Nedoptychoptera Lukashevich 1998 Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Callovian/Oxfordian, Sharteg, Mongolia, Tithonian
  • †Neuseptychoptera Szadziewski et al. 2017 Neuse River amber, North Carolina, Campanian
• Subfamily. †Eoptychopterininae Lukashevich, 1995
  • †Eoptychopterina Kalugina 1985 Itat Formation, Russia, Bajocian, Daohugou, China, Callovian Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Callovian/Oxfordian Uda Formation, Ichetuy Formation, Russia, Oxfordian Sharteg, Mongolia, Tithonian Glushkovo Formation, Russia, Tithonian Durlston Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian, Weald Clay, Hauterivian, Zaza Formation, Russia, Aptian
• †subfamily Proptychopterininae Lukashevich 1995
  • †Proptychopterina Kalugina 1985 Makarova Formation, Russia, Toarcian Itat Formation, Russia, Bajocian, Daohugou, China, Callovian Karabastau Formation, Kazakhstan, Callovian/Oxfordian Khaya Formation, Glushkovo Formation, Russia, Tithonian Ulaan-Ereg Formation, Sharteg, Mongolia, Tithonian
• Subfamily Bittacomorphinae Alexander 1919
  • †Probittacomorpha Freiwald and Willmann 1992 Fur Formation, Denmark, Ypresian, Montagne d'Andance, France, Turolian
  • †Zhiganka Lukashevich 1995 Batylykh Formation, Russia, Neocomian, Weald Clay, United Kingdom, Hauterivian, Khasurty locality, Russia, Aptian
• Subfamily Ptychopterinae Schiner 1864
  • †Brodilka Lukashevich et al. 2001 Lulworth Formation, United Kingdom, Berriasian