Many home owners have been seeing what appears to be an invasion of mosquitoes on steroids. Even though these insects resemble giant mosquitoes, they are actually Crane Flies. However, unlike mosquitoes, Crane Flies do not bite. Some species don’t have mouth parts and the ones that do are only used for eating nectar.
Their life cycle is somewhat similar to mosquitoes in that they require an aquatic or damp area to lay eggs and for larval development. Crane Flies have a number of aliases including mosquito hawk, mosquito or “skeeter” eater, and, in the United Kingdom, daddy longlegs.
Crane Flies are poor flyers that are attracted to light, which is why they tend to congregate around porches and patios. Fortunately, they generally only have one generation per year making them more of a nuisance during their short life span rather than a constant pest.
In most cases, simply waiting for the water to dry or the weather to warm will take care of these pests. However, since they do require water or a damp environment for their life cycle, you may be a prime candidate for a mosquito invasion as well. Contact our office soon for information about our Mosquito Reduction Program so you can enjoy your outdoor time.
