COMMON NAME

Crane fly

Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias

Diptera

Tipulidae

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Description

Called crane flies because of their long, thin legs. They are often mistaken for large mosquitoes but are not related and don’t suck blood or bite.

Adult size: 15-20 mm

Out and about

Adults are about in late spring. They are found in most regions worldwide, with the most concentration of species in the tropics. In Australia they seem to be concentrated in the subtropics and temperate regions but occur throughout the country.

Reproduction and Life cycle

The female depending on the species, will lay her eggs in dry soil, on the surface of water or some just drop them whilst flying. The larvae look like brown caterpillars and live in both dry and wet habitats. The eggs are usually black in colour. The lifespans of the adults is 10-15 days. Most of their life is spent as larvae.

To deter

To control

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Predators

Why they are Beneficial

Their larvae feed on decaying organic matter and live in water or very damp soil or decomposing matter and therefore help with decomposition, increasing microbial activity. In some species the larvae are predatory. The larvae are capable of causing damage to lawns as they eat roots and grasses. The adults may feed on nectar but because they don’t live long anyway, they have little need to feed on anything at all.

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