cranefly
Gangly harmless flier
A cranefly is a long-legged flying insect resembling an oversized mosquito, though it doesn't bite.
Craneflies have slender bodies and extremely fragile legs that detach easily.
They're attracted to lights and often blunder into homes, where their awkward flight and gangly appearance alarm people unnecessarily.
Also called daddy longlegs in British English.
Having lengthy limbs
- spindlyThin and fragile-looking
- lankyTall and ungainly thin
- long-leggedWith extended lower limbs
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
ungainly · stilted · gangly · loose-limbed · gawky · rangy · angular · daddy-long-legs
Easily broken or damaged
- gossamerFilmy, delicate material
- wispyThin and insubstantial
- spindlyThin and fragile-looking
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
gauzy · diaphanous · filamentous · threadlike · feathery · slender · translucent · papery
- larvaImmature feeding stage
- leatherjacketCrane fly's immature stage
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- wingsLimbs for flight
thorax · abdomen · exoskeleton · invertebrate · arthropod · entomology · metamorphosis · nymph
leggy
Having lengthy limbs
- spindlyThin and fragile-looking
- lankyTall and ungainly thin
- long-leggedWith extended lower limbs
awkward · ungainly · stilted · gangly · loose-limbed · gawky · rangy · angular · daddy-long-legs · spindle-shanked
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
ethereal · gauzy · diaphanous · filamentous · threadlike · feathery · slender · translucent · papery · membranous
diptera
- larvaImmature feeding stage
- leatherjacketCrane fly's immature stage
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
wings · thorax · abdomen · exoskeleton · invertebrate · arthropod · entomology · metamorphosis · nymph · six-legged
short-lived
Lasting only briefly
brief · temporary · passing · evanescent · momentary · fugacious
hovering
Suspended without support
- driftingMoving without purpose
- flutteringLight, rapid movement
- airborneTraveling through air
bobbing · floating · gliding · meandering · erratic · wobbly · bumbling · circling
- insectsant, ants, bee, bees, butterfly
- night insectsmoth, firefly, mosquito, gnat, lightning bug
- water insectswater strider, water boatman, water bug, water beetle, giant water bug
- amphibiousfrog, toad, salamander, newt, axolotl
- fly fishingrainbow trout, brown trout, nymph, dry flies, streamers