Crane Fly

Crane Fly, Diptera

Often incorrectly identified as a "Texas-sized mosquito" or mislabeled as a "mosquito hawk" for belief they feed on mosquitoes, the Crane Fly seems to be a misunderstood common household pest, and an indicator of warmer days to come. The adult phase of this insect is harmless as in this phase they do not even feed. The larvae though do have chewing mouth parts used to ingest decomposing matter, helping to speed up the process. Crane flies live in moist environments which means a wet spring can bring out more than usual. One note of interest, thanks to the size of these flies you can clearly see the haltere, an organ that helps stabilize flight for insects in the Diptera order. If you ever find them in your house, know that they do not want to suck your blood, but rather find out where that bright light is coming from.

If you were wondering, this crane fly was taking a rest on my shoe.