Crane fly surprises

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If you are one of the people (like us) who see Daddy Long Legs or Crane flies and immediately think, "They kill mosquitoes" then like us, you have been misinformed.

They actually are a type of fly in the Tipulidae insect family and there are 4,000 kinds of crane flies.

And, not only do they not eat mosquitoes, they basically eat nothing at all but a little nectar since their lives last only a few days so they can mate and lay eggs.

Although the photo makes you wonder what the heck, their offspring are their reason for being. Not a cute child at all but there you have it. The grubs or larvae are called leatherjackets.

The larvae's main meal is dead wet leaves though sometimes they are guilty of enjoying grass roots.

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