Bug Alert! What are these giant flying pests?? And why are there so many of them??
The good news is they're not mosquitoes and they don't bite! They are called crane flies. Read more below for information about why there are so many right now and what you can do about them.
“Giant Mosquitoes” - “Killer Mosquitoes” - “Mosquito Eaters” - “Mosquito Hawks” - they get called many things, but they’re none of these.
Some people think they're giant mosquitoes, some believe they eat mosquitoes, and others mistake them for spiders – but these awkward-looking insects, with their spindly legs and fairy-like flutter, aren't any of those. Crane flies are in the fly family. You will usually see adult crane flies on the sides of houses, sheds, windows, and fluttering around lights. Even though they are the most noticeable and annoying in their adult stage, they are only in the adult stage for up to 3 days. The majority of their lifespan is spent in the larvae stage underground.
Most crane fly larvae are found in standing water, damp leaves, and, especially, wet dirt. Crane fly larvae can stay in their larvae stage for up to 3 years before hatching and will wait through dry seasons until the conditions are wetter and more preferable.
In central NC, November was warmer and wetter than normal. November 2022 brought several large rain events tracking over the triad, which also included the remnants of Hurricane Nicole. According to NCEI, the state of NC had a preliminary average rainfall of 4.35 inches. This made it the 43rd-wettest January since 1895.
A Crane Fly is much larger than a mosquito—and far less harmful.
What does all this weather talk mean for crane flies?? In November the conditions were good for crane flies to lay more eggs, and the conditions stayed damp and warm for the larvae to thrive through the winter. Due to our warm spring, lots of grasses and wildflowers have been growing in the past month, again, feeding the larvae and keeping them thriving.
Usually in late spring, and sometimes again in the fall, many crane flies will become adults and emerge from their larvae stage in the ground. That is why we see so many at one time. The adult crane flies do not live for very long—only 2-3 days to mate and reproduce. However, in that time, a female crane fly can lay 300 more eggs that will hatch in a few weeks and result in 300 more larvae feeding in the ground.
What can you do? And how can we help?
One helpful tip is to improve the drainage in your yard and keep it free from wet vegetation. However, there is some damp soil that just can’t be helped. If you let our Mosquito Patrol technicians know that you’ve seen adult crane fly outbreaks in your yard, we can try to target and treat the ground where larvae could be living to prevent future outbreaks. Keeping your yard treated by Mosquito Patrol through the spring, fall, and year-round can help break this pest cycle in your yard!
Summary: Crane flies—or “Mosquito Hawks” or other names—are not related to mosquitoes and they do not bite. They emerge from larvae in the spring and sometimes in the fall. If they are a nuisance around your yard and outdoor living spaces, they probably just emerged and will die down in a few days. If they continue to be a problem, let your Mosquito Patrol technician know and we can work on a plan to help interrupt an infestation in your yard.
Now…Bring on backyard fun!!
Resources:
https://news.arizona.edu/story/whats-all-crane-flies
https://www.weather.gov/media/rah/climate/monthlysummaries/November2022MonthlyClimateSummary.pdf
https://www.weather.gov/media/rah/climate/monthlysummaries/January2023MonthlyClimateSummary.pdf