Having found this Crane fly inside my workshop, I have decided to try to tell the species apart. So I have shot close-up pictures of the different parts of its anatomy. I have been shortly stuck and I had to require the help of Alain Ramel who has indicated to me that this one is a Crane fly of the Lunatipula subgenus, without any chance to identify further to the species.

I have used this picture (not resized) to count the number of articles of the antennae and then confirm one member of the Tipula genus. Surprisingly I was always counting 12 while I was expecting at least 13. My mistake has been to forget the pedicel which is a very short article between the scape (first article at the base of the antenna) and the flagellum of 11 articles. So the 13 articles do indicate one member of the Tipula genus. According to Alain Ramel, a yellow colour on the first two antenna articles would have indicated Tipula lunata, but this is not the case here.

This picture clearly show the whitish lunule, just before the stigma, reaching the discal cell and even extending slightly beyond. This is the typical characteristic of the Lunatipula subgenus.

Here is a view of the ovipositor of this female. I have shot this picture with the easiest angle of view, so this is an upper side view. I have noticed that the various keys are often based on side views. I will remember this next time.

Pay attention, the shadows of the plants are drawing marks on this Crane Fly. The large whitish lunule is clearly visible on the right wing, for sure this is one member of the Lunatipula sub-genus. I have been immediately stuck when I have tried to use one key to tell species apart. The shape of the abdomen tip indicates one male.

The first two articles of the antennae of this male are yellow. The following articles are black.

Like for females, a side view of the tip of this male's abdomen may have helped to progress thru the species identification key.

Here is one male of the Lunatipula subgenus as shown by its non-spotted wings and by the large whitish lunule.

I tried my best to shoot pictures that may help following the identification key for males. Here is one view showing the first yellow articles of the antennae.

I shot a side view of the abdomen's tip but I didn't succeed to progress thru the identification key. This may be due to my lack of knowledge but I also think that pictures with other angles of view are required. So I will just list this one at the subgenus level and I will persevere in the hope of doing better next time.