You might have noticed a bug in your house that flies around almost drunkenly with huge wings, long creepy legs, and a mouth that appears to be capable of stinging and wondered, “What the heck is that?” Well, it just might be a crane fly. Read on to find out more…

What is a crane fly?

Often referred to as “mosquito eaters” or “mosquito hawk” – both completely misleading names, since they are actually in no way related to either mosquitos nor hawks. They also generally don’t eat anything at all after they’ve grown out of their larval stage. Since they’re actually a class of fly, their behavior doesn’t rise above that of a nuisance to other animals. In fact, they’re even less of a nuisance than other kinds of flies you’re probably familiar with, like house flies. Unlike house flies though, they don’t mess around in animal feces, decaying flesh, or trash. They just hang around, conserving their energy until they see an opportunity for mating.

Are crane flies dangerous?

Not at all, at least not in a way that could cause physical damage. They lack any sort of body appendage that could pierce or bite anything, which is why their common nickname “mosquito eater” is so misleading. They’re physically incapable of hurting a mosquito, or anything else for that matter. The only case they can cause harm is during their larval stage, where they resemble something much closer to a maggot. It is during that stage where they eat voraciously, wreaking at least some havoc on any vegetation nearby (including potentially your yard or garden). But even in that stage, you’ll suffer no wounds or illness from them directly.

However, they could possibly attract more harmful insects into your yard and house as a source of food. Everything from birds and bats to spiders feed on them, so it may still be worth your while to keep them under control in and around your house if you want to help keep their predators away.

How do I prevent or get rid of crane flies?

They tend to lay eggs in and around standing bodies of water, their only real similarity to mosquitos, so being careful to address puddles and backed-up sinks around your property will go a long way. This is also another reason to be conservative with watering your lawn. A saturated lawn is more than sufficient for crane flies to lay their eggs in. Secondarily, keeping doors and windows shut and sealed to prevent them from entering is vital as well (and will also prevent their predators from following suit).

When are crane flies most active?

Right now, actually! Crane flies are most active in the first 3-4 months of the year, as winter begins winding down and spring starts ramping up.

Have more questions?

For more information on crane flies, check out this local news article.

Lastly, if you want information on actual mosquitos, check out our other articles on them here! And if you have further questions or concerns or think you might need assistance in the greater Phoenix area, give us a call or send us an email!