Is a Crane Fly a May Fly?

You may have heard them called mayflies, mosquito hawks, skeeter eaters, and my favorite, mosquito on steroids! But regardless of what you call them, these inch-long, gangly-legged insects that will sneak into your home and bouncing off the walls and ceilings are, in fact, crane flies.

Are mayflies the same as crane flies?

Still . . . if you see swarms of mayflies, this is a good thing. Crane flies are often mistaken for mosquitoes, but are much larger and have much longer legs. You're likely to find these flying around your porch lights, but they don't bite people.

What is crane fly season?

“Most species are found in damp habitats,” he says. “Many are aquatic or semi aquatic in the larval stages.” Crane flies tend to emerge in early spring to fall “especially after a rain event during the warmer seasons,” Troyano says.