Crane Fly

Description:

Crane Flies (Tipulidae) are delicate insects varying in size from 1/4 inch to as large as 1 1/2 inches in length. The largest crane flies are sometimes called "daddy-long-legs", "gully nippers", or "mosquito hawks". They do not bite people and they do not eat mosquitoes. Some species of crane flies emerge from aquatic sources and others from terrestrial or decaying vegetation sources.

Habitat:

Even though crane flies look like mosquitoes, they do not bite humans. Adult crane flies eat nectar or they do not eat at all; most adult crane flies only mate and then die. Crane fly larvae are called leatherjackets or 'leatherjacket slugs' because of the way they move and eat roots (such as those of grass in lawns) and other vegetation. Leatherjackets can sometimes cause damage to plants. Because of this, people sometimes think crane flies are a pest of lawn grass in some areas. Some leatherjackets are aquatic. Many birds eat crane flies.

Notes:

People in different places call crane flies different names. Most of these names are only used by people in small areas. Some of the other names for crane flies are, mosquito hawks, mosquito eaters (or skeeter eaters), and jimmy spinners. In the United Kingdom and Ireland they are most commonly referred to as Daddy Long-Legs, but in the United States the name Daddy Long-Legs is given to arachnids that look like thin spiders and that scientists call Opiliones.