Harmless 'mosquito hawks' will be abundant for a few more weeks

Apr. 27—The crane flies — so-called "mosquito hawks" — that are flocking to outdoor lights and clinging to windows by the thousands locally are certainly a nuisance, but experts say they are harmless to people and good for the ecosystem.

Crane flies, which look like large mosquitoes and live for only a few days, can be found in huge numbers right now, but experts say they'll be gone when the temperature warms up.

"They do tend to emerge here in the spring and as we move through the summertime," Morgan County Regional Extension Agent Jayne Luetzow said. "When we see them a lot is when we've had really wet, moist conditions and more humid conditions."

Luetzow said they are especially numerous this year.

"I think part of it is we've just had a good bit of rain in the last couple of weeks, and then we're getting warmer," she said.

Crane flies tend to be in more rural areas and grassy areas, Luetzow said.

"One thing they're attracted to is what we call decaying matter," she said. "So, if you've got a lot of farms near your area and they've got manure or maybe you've got farms and they're cutting hay or tilling up the soil. That's what they are also attracted to; they tend to want to feed on that."

Luetzow said crane flies are also attracted to large bodies of water.

"Us being here near the river, that can be cause for seeing more than normal," she said.

"They're attracted to lights at night. So, if you've got lights inside, just make sure that you've got your screens up and close your doors, and also check for any gaps that you might have. Make sure that they're sealed."

Luetzow said they are a nuisance but are harmless to people and pets. Despite their resemblance to a mosquito, she said they do not possess a stinger of any kind.

"Another common misconception people often have with crane flies is people will either call them mosquito hawks or skeeter eaters," Luetzow said. "One, crane flies are not mosquitoes, nor do they actually feed on mosquitoes."

Brian Brown, also a regional extension agent, said crane flies can be 2 to 3 inches long and are sometimes mistaken for granddaddy long legs. He said they do not have the mouth parts to bite.

"They feed on dead organic matter like decaying soils and things like that. So, if you have any of that around your house, that may contribute to that because they lay their eggs in that," he said. "Just as a tip, people might want to add fresh mulch and maybe rake away some of the decaying stuff. If you want to get rid of them, that might help."

Crane flies are good for the ecosystem, Luetzow said.

"They are actually a good insect to have around to feed our wildlife, such as frogs, swallows and our armadillos," Luetzow said. "They tend to really like them."

Brown said they also are food for snakes and lizards. "Lizards love them, so you might see a few more of those."

A crane fly's lifespan is only about three days, Brown said.

"What they are doing while they are alive is they are going to try to mate," Luetzow said. "Then what they'll do is they'll lay their eggs. They try to lay their eggs where there are few predators so that they ensure the next generation's survival."

Their eggs stay dormant through the winter until the next spring, Luetzow said. She said people should expect to see them until we get into the summer season.

"Give us about another four to six weeks," Luetzow said. "They like warm temperatures. This year we've had a couple of cool nights, but that's not really going to deter them too much. We might have some that die off but as we're getting more consistent with mild temperatures during that upper 60s, 70s and 80s, they like those temperatures.

"When we get on up to the upper 80s, 90s, you probably won't see them nearly as much; it's too hot."

—erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.