Crane fly

A crane fly is also known as a mosquito eater or a mosquito hawk. These insects belong to a group of flies called the dipteran superfamily Tipuloidea. There are several families of crane flies, including Cylindrotomidae, Limoniidae, Pediciidae, and Tipulidae.

Crane flies are often called "skeeter-eaters" or "daddy longlegs", but they do not actually eat adult mosquitos. The name "daddy longlegs" is also used for some spiders, such as those in the family Pholcidae and the order Opiliones. The young, called larvae, are known as leatherjackets.

Crane flies first appeared around 245 million years ago during the Middle Triassic and are found all over the world. They are most common in warm places called the tropics, but also live in colder areas and high mountains. Scientists have described more than 15,500 species of crane flies, with most of this work done by a scientist named C.P. Alexander.

Description

An adult crane fly looks like a big mosquito with a thin body and very long, thin legs that can easily fall off. They live in damp places near lakes and streams. Most do not eat, but some drink nectar, pollen, or water. Their wings can be 1 to 6.5 cm long, but some can be as long as 11 cm.

The larvae, or baby crane flies, live in many places such as marshes, springs, and even in decaying wood. They usually eat dead plants and tiny germs, but some eat living plants, fungi, or other small creatures.

Main article: Morphology of Diptera

Tipuloidea are medium to large flies with long legs, wings, and bodies. They are yellow, brown, or grey. The wings can be plain, striped, or marbled. The larvae have a long, thin body and special breathing holes on their last body segment.

Biology

Crane flies, also known as mosquito eaters, have adults that live for about 10 to 15 days. When a female crane fly emerges from its pupa, it often already has eggs ready. If a male is nearby, they will mate, sometimes while flying. After mating, the female lays her eggs in wet soil, algae mats, or even on the surface of water. Some females lay eggs in dry soil or drop them while flying. The eggs are usually black and may have a special filament to help them stay in place.

The larvae, also called leatherjackets, can be found in many places, both on land and in water—ranging from marine environments to fresh water. They have a cylindrical body shape, with the head often pulled back into the chest area. Their bodies may be smooth, covered in hairs, or have small bumps. These larvae eat algae, tiny plants, and decaying plant matter, and some even eat other small creatures.

Ecology

Crane fly larvae live in many different wet places, such as moss, decaying wood, and muddy areas. They help the soil by breaking down organic material and making it richer for microbes.

Both the larvae and adult crane flies are important food for many animals, including spiders, fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Some water mites also use adult crane flies to travel, a process called phoresis.

Pest status

Some crane flies, like the European crane fly, Tipula paludosa, and the marsh crane fly T. oleracea, can harm farms in Europe. Their babies, called larvae, live in soil and eat plant roots and leaves. This can make plants grow poorly or even die. These crane flies have also become a problem in the United States since the late 1900s. Their larvae have been found on many types of plants, including vegetables, fruits, and grasses.

Birds like starlings sometimes eat these larvae, and special tiny organisms called nematodes can help control them. In 1935, Lord’s Cricket Ground in London had trouble with these larvae, which made patches on the grass where games were played.

Phylogenetics

Scientists are still figuring out where crane flies fit in the family tree of flies. Some used to think they were one of the earliest kinds of flies, maybe even closely related to all other flies. But newer studies using tiny pieces inside cells show they might actually be more advanced.

Some groups of crane flies are very close relatives to each other. Recent studies also show that some classifications need updating because they don’t fully capture how these flies are related.

Common names

Crane flies have many different names depending on where you live. In the U.S., they are sometimes called mosquito hawks, mosquito eaters, gallinippers, or gollywhoppers. Outside the U.S., they are often called "daddy longlegs," but this name can be confusing because it is also used for some spiders.

In Scotland, crane flies are called "Jenny long legs." In Ireland, they are called "daddy long legs" in English, and in Irish, they are known as Pilib an Gheataire, which means Skinny Philip. The baby stages of crane flies, called larvae, are commonly known as leatherjackets.

arachnids Opiliones Pholcidae larvae Irish

Misconceptions

Many people think crane flies are very dangerous, but this is not true. Crane flies cannot bite or produce venom, even though some stories say they are very poisonous. These ideas might come from people confusing crane flies with another creature called the cellar spider, which people also call "daddy longlegs." While the cellar spider can produce venom, it is not very strong.

Another common belief is that crane flies, sometimes called "mosquito hawks," eat many mosquitoes. However, adult crane flies cannot catch or eat other insects. Some adult crane flies might drink nectar, but many live such short lives that they do not eat at all.