crane fly
Harmless mosquito lookalike
A crane fly is a large, slender flying insect with extremely long legs and a mosquito-like appearance.
Despite looking intimidating, crane flies don't bite or sting—adults of most species don't feed at all.
They're often called mosquito hawks or daddy longlegs, though they belong to a different order than spiders of that name.
A crane fly bumped against the porch light all evening.
Suspended without support
- flutterRapid light movement
- driftGradual movement, no direction
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- waftDrift on air
airborne · erratic · clumsy · bumbling · wobbling · circling · nocturnal · lamplight
Spindly arachnid, not venomous
- spindlyThin and fragile-looking
- ganglyAwkwardly tall and thin
- stiltsPoles raising walkers higher
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
diptera · thorax · abdomen · exoskeleton · compound eyes · proboscis · mosquito hawk · six-legged
Easily broken or damaged
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- wispyThin and insubstantial
- diaphanousDelicately translucent
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
gauzy · featherlight · airy · translucent · delicate · insubstantial · filamentous · breakable
Immature metamorphosing creatures
- leatherjacketCrane fly's immature stage
- soilGround matter for planting
- lawnTended yard grass
- turfGrass-covered earth surface
grass roots · decomposer · detritivore · wetland · marsh · garden · pest · harmless
hovering
Suspended without support
waft · airborne · erratic · clumsy · bumbling · wobbling · circling · nocturnal · lamplight · porch light
daddy-long-legs
Spindly arachnid, not venomous
diptera · antennae · thorax · abdomen · exoskeleton · compound eyes · proboscis · mosquito hawk · six-legged · appendages
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- wispyThin and insubstantial
- diaphanousDelicately translucent
ethereal · gauzy · featherlight · airy · translucent · delicate · insubstantial · filamentous · breakable · papery
larvae
Immature metamorphosing creatures
- leatherjacketCrane fly's immature stage
- soilGround matter for planting
- lawnTended yard grass
turf · grass roots · decomposer · detritivore · wetland · marsh · garden · pest · harmless · beneficial
short-lived
Lasting only briefly
autumn · brief · temporary · passing · summer nights · dusk · twilight · lifecycle · mating · adult stage
crane flymosquito
Blood-feeding flying pest
no-see-um · horsefly · deer fly · tsetse fly · assassin bug