Written by ABNC’s Visitor & Membership Services Coordinator, Susan Millsap

What is that long-legged insect bumping into the walls of your house on spring nights?  Those are mosquito hawks!  Mosquito hawks are often mistaken as giant mosquitoes or mosquito hunters, but they are neither.  Mosquito hawks are actually crane flies.  Crane flies and mosquitoes are both classified as “true flies,” but belong to different families.  Mosquitoes and mosquito hawks share similarities (such as appearance), but they are different enough to warrant separate family classifications.

Crane fly adults are not known to eat other insects or drink blood.  Most do not eat at all!  This is because they only live a few days, just enough time to find a mate and produce some eggs.  Most of the life cycle of crane flies is actually spent as larvae, known as leatherjackets due to their tough skin.  These grub-like creatures live either underwater or in moist soil.  Leatherjackets usually feed on roots and decaying plant matter, so they are part of nature’s clean-up crew.  The leatherjackets and adult crane flies are a food source for spiders, birds, amphibians, fish, and mammals such as skunks.

There are approximately 15,000 known species of crane flies world-wide, with a wide variety of adaptations and sizes.  The ones found in our part of Texas are not generally considered pest species and the larvae do not normally cause significant damage to crops or lawns.  So, there is no need to be concerned if you see them buzzing about your porch lights or inside your house.  They do not bite and will only live a few days.