Posts Tagged: crane flies

Crane Flies Are Here, There and Everywhere

You don't have to crane your neck to see the crane flies. They're everywhere. They're zigzagging around your yard, bumping into walls and windows,  landing on your screen door and fence, and clustering on your porch lights, all the while searching...

A crane fly dangles from a spider web. It is about to become prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A crane fly dangles from a spider web. It is about to become prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sometimes it's an artistic sight--a crane fly and its shadow. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sometimes it's an artistic sight--a crane fly and its shadow. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Not a 'Mosquito Hawk'

Some folks call them "bugsy" or "mosquito hawks" or "skeeter eaters" "flying daddy longlegs." They may look like Texas-sized mosquitoes but they're not mosquitoes. Neither do they eat mosquitoes. They're crane flies in the order Diptera, family...

A crane fly lands on a stucco wall. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A crane fly lands on a stucco wall. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A resting crane fly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A resting crane fly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gollywhoppers in Love

He didn't bring her flowers. They were already sharing a sunflower leaf. He didn't bring her candy. They'd already dined on nectar. It was Labor Day and the two crane flies looked quite friendly in our bee friendly garden. More than friendly. I...

The crane fly is sometimes called a mosquito hawk or a gollywhopper.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

These two crane flies, also known as mosquito hawks, are in love. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Read more