What Are Crane Flies?
WouterCrane flies are insects belonging to the family of Tipulidae. This family includes subfamilies such as the Limoniinae, Pediciinae, and Cylindrotominae. The term crane fly is often used to describe any species of the insect family.
Crane flies are small and tan-colored insects with long legs and a fragile body. The females have long elongated bodies and a snout. They live for a few days. The flies are not harmful to humans, although they can cause some trouble for gardeners.
Crane flies lay eggs in moist soil, and the larvae feed on decaying wood and vegetation. Adult crane flies live for only a couple of days before pupating. They are not harmful to humans or livestock, and they do not sting or bite. However, they can be a nuisance in turf areas, where their larvae can leave bare patches of grass.
In addition to causing damage to your lawn and plants, crane flies can cause other problems in your house. You can prevent their entry by putting up door and window screens. You can also install “bug lights” – yellow lights that are unappealing to most flying insects. This will help reduce the number of crane flies in your house.
The adult crane flies only live for two days, so they don’t usually feed. Crane flies look a lot like mosquitoes, but they don’t bite or sting. They are members of the Diptera order, meaning true flies.
