Texas is facing an invasion right now. If you’ve tried to walk outside recently, no doubt you’ve come across your fair share of mosquito hawks.
They look like mosquitos, except with bigger bodies and longer legs, and despite also being known as “skeeter eaters,” don’t actually eat mosquitos at all.
So otherwise, they’re just another annoyance we all have to deal with.
Unlike mosquitos, these crane flies are actually benign, and many experts call their appearance as a “harbinger of spring.” Wizzie Brown, an entomologist for Texas A&M AgriLife refers to them as the “Texas groundhog,” a sign that warmer weather is on the way.
According to the Dallas Morning News, crane flies do not bite humans, but do serve as a “critical food source for frogs, swallows, armadillos and other insectivores.”
Despite the large number of mosquito hawks you might encounter, their lifespan is relatively low, generally only living a couple of days as adults.
Bryant McDowell, an extension program specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife, advises that if a mosquito hawk finds its way into your home, simply scoop them up and return them outdoors.
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