Crane Flies Emerge in Arizona

With all the buzz on panics lately, the crane fly has been getting it’s far share of attention.

Rainy weather in Phoenix during November has led to a huge infestation of crane flies throughout the Valley. In drier years the crane fly larvae will stay dormant in the dry soil.

However because of all the rain and the moisture penetration… they have emerged!

Easily mistaken as Mosquito, these bugs are harmless. Common names include: “mosquito hawk, mosquito wasp, mosquito eater, gallinipper, gollywhopper… [and] daddy-long-legs around the world.”

Do Crane Flies Bite or Sting?

There is an enduring urban legend that crane flies are the most venomous insects in the world, but have no ability to administer the venom; this is not true. The myth likely arose due to their being confused with the cellar spider as they are also informally called “daddy longlegs”, and although the spider does possess venom, this has also been debunked.

Crane flies are sometimes called “mosquito hawks”, but they do not actually eat mosquitoes. Crane fly larvae mostly feed on roots of forage crops, turf grasses, and seedling field crops, while adults, if they feed at all, feed primarily on liquids such as nectar.

How to get rid of crane flies – the natural way!

• A tasty bird snack: Birds love crane flies. One option is to set up bird feeders close to where you see crane flies.
• Keep your doors and windows closed to prevent them from entering your house.
• Bug Zappers – The crane flies will easily get attracted to the light and get zapped.
• Garlic, oil and dish soap can be used as a attraction for crane flies.

Because many crane flies do not eat throughout their short life spans, and instead will mate one time and then die, the problem is short lived.

– Source Wikipedia