No, crane flies do not bite nor sting humans although they look like large mosquitoes. In general, they do not bite any living creatures because they do not have a mouth to bite nor stinger to sting.
In some parts of the world, crane flies are known as Mosquito Hawks for their close resemblance to mosquitos. However, the good news is that they are not as aggressive as mosquitos are. They belong to a different insect family called Tipuloidea.
Crane flies got a bad reputation because of their appearance
Interestingly, some people consider them as venomous insects. However, it is one of the existing misconceptions about them.
Firstly, they do not have poison and even if they have poison, they do not have vital organs such as stinger to inject it.
Crane flies can’t bite humans and animals but they can kill your lawn.
Crane flies are considered agricultural pests. It is because when they are larvae, they can kill people’s lawns and vegetation by crawling under the roots. They can also cause costly damage to nice-looking golf courses.
When the lawn is infested with the larvae of crane flies, yellow and brown patches start to appear. In that case, people need to replant the sections of the lawn and treat the whole yard with specialized insecticides.
Crane flies multiply in huge numbers
During a single mating season, one crane fly can lay over 300 eggs in the grassy areas. Those eggs hatch into larvae.
Commonly, we recognize the larvae of crane flies as leatherjacket worms. The larvae stay in the soil during the spring season nibbling on the plants until they grow into actual crane flies.
Due to the enormous multiplying and root eating capabilities, people looking for effective ways to eliminate them from their property preserve their lawns and plants.
Some people rely on natural means such as birds to eliminate leatherjackets because people try to avoid using the harsh chemicals in their property.
Birds love larvae. If you see birds pecking on your lawn, then it is a good indication that your lawn includes larvae of crane flies.
Crane flies are also known as daddy-long-legs and they are not immune to cold weather.
Mostly, for their appearance, people call crane flies daddy-long-legs. However, they are totally separate from cellar spiders which are also called daddy-long-legs.
Unlike cellar spiders, crane flies live a short life. Cellar spiders live about 2 years. Adult crane flies live only 10-15 days.
You may find crane flies inside your house quite often during the winter season. They are attracted to the room temperature at that time of a year because they are too fragile to live in cold temperatures.
These are the facts that I wanted to share. Hopefully, the post answered your initial question and gave you valuable information about crane flies.
If you know something interesting or have suggestions you want to share about this insect, you may post them in the comments section.
