A crane fly is an insect in the Tipulidae family.
Crane flies are insects, but can sometimes be confused with spiders due to the fact that they are referred to as "daddy long legs" in some regions. Only adding to the confusion, there are also some types of spiders that are also referred to as daddy long legs, but these are not crane flies. Crane flies are also often called "mosquito hawks." Does this Spark an idea?
Tipulidae
The crane fly is an insect in the family Tipulidae. There are over 1,000 types of crane flies in North America, which can range in size from 5 to 50 mm. Adult crane flies typically live from 10 to 30 days, during which time they mate and the females lay eggs.
Popular Myths
Crane flies are not poisonous despite some popular misconceptions. The larvae of the crane fly can be harmful to gardening and is considered a pest, but it is not poisonous. Despite looking like large mosquitoes, crane flies do not bite or sting.
Feeding Habits
The larvae of the crane fly feed on many types of roots and leaves, and can be destructive to lawns and agricultural crops. Adult crane flies do not feed at all and exist on a diet of water. Both larvae and adult crane flies have many predators and are a food source for fish, frogs, birds, lizards and even spiders.
Tags: crane flies, Adult crane, Adult crane flies, crane insect, daddy long, daddy long legs