Colorful Tiger Crane Fly (Nephrotoma spp.)
I remember when I first moved to Florida I saw what I thought was a HUGE mosquito, thinking that there were mutant bugs down here, big enough to drain a body of blood in one gulp. They certainly look like mosquitoes, but the poor critters are swatted and squished all due to a case of mistaken identity. The flying mimics are actually crane flies and they don’t bite.
Some are reflective. You can see how they may be mistaken for a giant mosquito
Crane flies are beneficial in our gardens. Some species’ larvae are aquatic while others spend their youth in the soil. Both break down organic matter, returning nutrients to their respective habitats. As with most of nature, occasionally too much of a good thing can pose a problem. Some crane fly species can be a pest to agriculture. That’s why it is so important to have a balanced garden. Avoid pesticide use as chemicals kill the good bugs as well as the bad, and often kill those bugs that will control others to avoid them becoming pests.
They have extremely long legs
Both larval and adult crane flies provide an important food source for birds, reptiles, spiders, fish and other insects such as dragonflies, mantids, centipedes and beetles. Fishermen have been known to use the larval stage of members of the family Tipulidae (Large Crane Flies) as bait. As you can see, there are plenty of predators to keep the population in order.
Some seem acrobatic such as Brachypremna dispellens
Tipulidae is the largest family in the Order Diptera. Given this, identification can be mind-boggling. You can find out everything you ever wanted to know about the anatomy of a crane fly at that identification key link. Suffice to say I was unable (or unwilling) to crawl around counting wing lines or antenna segments…that and I really don’t wear my reading glasses when I am walking around the property calling on critters for a photo shoot. Old eyes can’t see tiny nuances.
Brachypremna dispellens have white legs
Crane flies undergo complete metamorphosis. Some species have an elongated rostrum (think Pinocchio), a straw-like appendage used to draw nectar from flowers. Thus, we can conclude that they also perform pollination duties.
wake up and smell the bidens alba
I noticed that most of the time when I see the adults fly it is when it is slightly damp or overcast, so if it is daytime and you see a mutant mosquito, take a good look before you swat. You may be saving the life of an insect that will help your beautiful wildlife garden grow more beautiful.
Limonia subgenus Geranomyia are drawn to flowers
© 2013, Loret T. Setters. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Loret T. Setters
Beautiful images, particularly the first one on the leaf. What camera do you use?
Diligent Gardener recently posted..How to make Spicy Tomato Soup
I have an oldie but a goodie for my insect macro photos. It is a point and shoot Sony Cybershot P93 which I bought 8 years ago. They no longer manufacture anything like it, which is sad. My sister also owned one, replaced it and regretted it.
Thanks for the compliment on the photos. if that camera ever breaks, I’m “toast”
Loret recently posted..Four, I tell you FOUR!
Thank you, eye opening! Never knew there was such a thing as a Crane Fly. Learn something new every day.
Kathy Sturr of the Violet Fern recently posted..Wrapping Up 2012 with Final Picks for Diana
The more I wander around the yard and the find things to photograph, the more I learn. I’m not sure I would discover half of what I do were it not for the digital camera age. I can point and shoot a hundred times and bring it up on the computer. Sometimes I don’t realize something was there until I enlarge it on the screen. Never ending nature will continue to teach us all, Kathy! Thanks for always stopping by.
Loret T. Setters recently posted..Four, I tell you FOUR!
I have never heard of these but I can see how they look like mosquitoes. I will have to be careful!
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Gardens Eye Journal-January 2013
Hi Donna!
They are so big, it is pretty easy to tell the difference
Loret recently posted..Four, I tell you FOUR!
Fascinating! I wonder what advantage they gain by mimicking mosquitoes? Seems like that would get them swatted much more often, at least when it comes to humans. I always learn something new every time you post. I love that about you
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Speaking at Todays Horticulture Symposium at Longwood Gardens
Hmmmmm….You may have something there Carole. Now I think I probably have it backwards and it is the mosquitoes trying to mimic the beneficial crane flies. duhhhhhhhhhhh!
You always make me THINK and revel in those “aha” moments! Thanks!
Loret recently posted..Four, I tell you FOUR!
Interesting article, Loret. I wonder if we have those out here in So Cal. We might not as I never see mosquitoes out in my garden~
“.. take a good look before you swat. You may be saving the life of an insect that will help your beautiful wildlife garden grow more beautiful.” .. Great advice!
kathy recently posted..California Teenage Runaway
Thanks Kathy. Oh how I wish to live without mosquitoes, although I have to say that since moving to FL I don’t seem to get bitten as often as I did in NY. I’m always jealous of my friend from CO who doesn’t have to give the woofs heartworm meds every month since they don’t have the little blood drinkers.
Loret recently posted..One for the Bugguide record books!
It is nice to know I am not the only one to think we have “giant mosquitos”. We have Crane Flies here in Brisbane and I was thinking some sort of giant mosquito until my insect loving friend told me about Crane Flies and their tiny vestigial second pair of wings. Like to short sticks with knobs on the end.
I put a link to your article and a picture of another local – Hover Fly, on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/michaelj.fox.359126
Once I find my pictures of the Crane Fly showing the vestigial wings I will send you a copy.
Michael
Thanks Michael! I have quite a collection of hover flies at my place. All these insects sure are interesting. Thanks for the visit and sharing your info.
Loret recently posted..One for the Bugguide record books!
Do Crane Flies inhabit Missouri? A number of years ago my adult sons and I were at a park on a path into the woods. We saw what looked like a giant mosquito. In fact we laughed because it looked like a giant mosquito we’ve seen in old cartoons. We didn’t know what it was but we didn’t stick around to find out.
Thanks,
Peggy
Yes they do! http://bugguide.net/node/view/97799/data shows that just about every state has had a sighting contributed to this database. That’s a good analogy to mosquitoes in cartoons…pretty much describes them perfectly! thanks for visiting
Wow, thanks Loret! I had no idea there was such a thing as a, “Crane Fly,” either! My interior world became that much richer…
Thanks Jesse! It still amazes me just how little I know about all the beneficial garden contributors. We learn as we go!
Loret recently posted..One for the Bugguide record books!