Table of Contents
What are mosquito eaters?
Mosquito eaters are long legged insects, some what larger than mosquitoes, and due to their similarity in resemblance and appearance they are mistaken as giant mosquitoes. They are mostly seen in warmer summer months and attracted to light sources. They have a very delicate and fragile body structure, which if handled or caught, can easily break off their legs or they might even get killed.
What are mosquito eaters actually called?
Mosquito eaters which are actually crane flies, also known by other names such as “mosquito hawks”, “skeeter eaters”, “daddy long legs”, etc. People often mistakenly misunderstood them as giant mosquitoes. As they resemble oversized mosquitoes, people get feared with their presence around. But in real, they do not harm or bite humans.
These crane flies belong to the family Tipulidae and are mainly found in green and humid regions like garden, forest, wetlands, or places with dense vegetation.
These crane flies undergo complete metamorphosis and have 4 distinct stages in their lifecycle – egg, larva, pupa, adult, which is same as in case of mosquito’s life cycle. They are most active in summers and early fall season.
On contrary to what people believe, these crane flies do not feed on mosquitoes or any other insects. They mostly focus on reproduction while their larvae feed on nectar and decaying organic matter like dead plants and roots.
The larvae on the other hand, supports ecosystem by breaking down organic nutrients in the soil. And also serve as food source for other animals, including birds.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons by Chiswick Chap | Content License
What are mosquito eaters attracted to?
Adult crane flies are attracted to light sources and so they might enter your houses and surprise you, like other insects. Due to this, they often seen around outdoor lights, windows and near other light sources like street lights, in evening.
But, as far as favorable living conditions are concerned they are attracted to warmer and moist environments with dense vegetation, where they will get plenty of organic food supply. Such environment along with damp soil, grassy areas with decomposing organic matter is ideal for them, as they are mainly concerned about laying eggs at adult stage.
Why are they called mosquito eaters?
Crane flies are called mosquito eaters, as they resemble to adult mosquitoes to a great extent. People often misunderstood them as oversized giant mosquitoes. People have started believing that they might be feeding on mosquitoes. It’s not true, these crane flies do not eat mosquitoes.
But, this is just a myth or misconception. They can’t eat mosquitoes or any other insects, as their mouth is not made for eating solid food or insects.
Do mosquito eaters eat mosquitoes?
Actually, the microscopic view of these crane flies shows that its mouthparts are not made to consume solid food and they mainly feed on nectar.
It has been proved that these crane flies, the so called mosquito eaters do not consume mosquito at any stage of their lifecycle.
What are mosquito eaters good for?
These crane flies plays an important role in maintaining the eco system, being a food source for other predator that feed on them, like many amphibians and birds.
The larvae of these crane flies however has more important role in maintaining the nutrient cycle and eco system. They help in decomposing the dead plants and organic waste and improving the soil health which benefits the other plants and trees, with the soil nutrients.
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Do mosquito eaters eat spiders?
Crane flies are not predatory flies. They feed only on nectar and plant sources and other organic waste. They never feed on any other insects either spiders or mosquitoes.
While scientifically it is found that adult crane flies do not feed at all, they primarily focus on reproduction. Only at larval stage, they feed on decaying plants and organic materials.
Do mosquito eaters bite humans?
Crane flies do not bite humans and are completely harmless for humans as well as all other insects. They do not feed at all, in their adult stage. Their mouth is not designed to bite or eat. They pose no threat to humans.
How long do mosquito eaters live?
These mosquito eaters have 4 distinct stages of life cycle same as mosquitoes – egg, larva, pupa, adult. They have a very short span of life in their adult stage and they don’t feed on this stage. They focus only on reproduction. The adult crane flies can live around few days to couple of weeks. However, they spent the majority of their life in larval stage.
The larval stage of crane flies can last for few months or more depending on the environmental conditions.
10 facts about Mosquito eaters/Mosquito hawks/Skeeter eaters/Crane flies
| 10 Facts about Mosquito eaters | |
|---|---|
| Fact #1 | Despite of their name as mosquito eater, they don’t eat mosquitoes. They are harmless to humans, pets, mosquitoes, spiders and other insects. |
| Fact #2 | Although they resemble mosquitoes, but are much larger than mosquitoes with long legs and wingspan of up to 3 inches. |
| Fact #3 | Most of the adult crane flies, don’t feed at all. Some may feed on nectar or plant juices. At larval stage, they feed on decomposing organic matter. |
| Fact #4 | They are attracted to light sources and therefore seen around outdoor lights. |
| Fact #5 | They prefer moist and humid environment with damp soil, wet lands and grasslands. |
| Fact #6 | The larval stage of these crane flies can last for several months, but their lifespan in adult stage can lasts for a couple of days to few weeks only. |
| Fact #7 | Their larvae plays an important role in contributing soil health, by breaking down decaying organic matter. |
| Fact #8 | They reproduce and multiply at a great speed, depending on environmental conditions like warm climate and humidity. |
| Fact #9 | Based on the number of life cycles per year, there are two known species of crane flies: “Common crane fly” and “European crane fly” |
| Fact #10 | Their larvae feed on decaying plants and roots and therefore they are often considered as plant pests. |
Conclusion
These crane flies are often known by different names, mosquito eaters, mosquito hawks, skeeter eaters, daddy long legs, etc. These crane flies, however don’t eat mosquitoes and they do not pose any kind of threat to humans or other animals, birds or insects.
There are misconceptions among people due to its resemblance and appearance. Because of some myth, people started believing that these actually eat mosquitoes.
They just look like giant mosquitoes, but they are not.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What do mosquito eaters eat?
At adult stage they do not feed few of them may feed on nectar or plant juices, while their larvae mostly feed on decaying plants and roots, thus contributing to soil health.
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Are mosquito eaters dangerous?
No, these mosquito eaters are completely harmless to humans, birds and other insects. They don’t bite humans and prey on any other insects.
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What do mosquito eaters look like?
The mosquito eaters look like giant mosquitoes due to their resemblance to mosquitoes. These are quiet larger in size as compared to mosquitoes. They make similar buzzing sound and has very long slim legs, similar to mosquitoes.
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Are mosquito eaters harmless?
Yes, mosquito eaters do not harm anybody, including humans and all other insects. They do not feed or prey on any insects.
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Do mosquito eaters actually eat mosquitoes?
No, mosquito eaters do not actually eat mosquitoes. Its a misconception or widely spread rumour that people have fallen for. They never eat mosquitoes at any stage of their life.
