User:Samantha Popoalii/Dicranomyia Limonia hardyana Byers

Description
Limonia hardyana Byers also known as Dicranomyia hardyana Byers is a flightless Crane fly insect endemic to O'ahu, Hawai'i. It is one of 13 known Hawaiian flightless Crane flies. Specimens from multiple places on and near the summit of Ko'olau Mountain were documented to be discovered in 1985 by W.D. Perreira, W. C. Gagne, and S.L. Montgomery. D.E. Hardy. Limonia hardyana Byers is known only from the few specimens collected over the past 100 years.

Habitat
Limonia hardyana Byers flightless Crane fly live in a variety of aquatic or semi aquatic areas and in the high elevation bogs and the leaf litter on the ground of rain forests.

Anatomy and Morphology
Limonia hardyana Byers flightless Crane fly has been described as having long legs and a slender body. Research shows that Limonia hardyana Byers follows a dispersal pattern and does not follow the progression rule that many insects do.

Diet
Limonia hardyana Byers will eat small invertebrates and decaying plant tissue. One main food source are small springtails and larvae from other insects that can be found in the leaf litter of rain forest grounds.

Species rarity
Status: Rare.

Usefulness
Scientists have studied the Limonia hardyana Byers flightless Crane fly and other insects, having a diversification in study that has helped to have a better understanding of insect evolutionary patterns.