No, they are not giant mosquitoes. But Louisianans are seeing an abundance of large mosquito like insects known as crane flies stirring in the Bayou State. Assistant Professor in Urban Entomology at LSU Ag Center Dr. Aaron Ashbrook says the long-winged insect may be a nuisance but they play an important role in our ecosystem.
“The larvae themselves actually do a really important service in that they are detritivores. They eat a lot of decaying plant matter, organic materials, and are essentially recycling them in the environment.”
Ashbrook says the Bayou State typically sees large emergences of crane flies, known as mosquito hawks, in February and March. Most adults are typically attracted to light and water. He says the adult insect mate, lay eggs, and only live a week or two.
“They may feed on some pollen and nectar. They do not feed outside of that and they may not feed at all. And primarily what the adults are doing is just reproducing and shortly after they are dying.”
While they have a reputation for being blood-sucking dangerous insects, Ashbrook says they are completely harmless and don’t bite. And for those who find crane flies to be a nuisance…
“You can of course turn lights off that are by the door so they are less attracted to that area. You can potentially consider sealing cracks and crevices. But we do not recommend that you actively control for crane flies.”
Comments