mosquito hawk
Long-legged flying insect
A mosquito hawk is a crane fly—a long-legged flying insect that resembles an oversized mosquito but doesn't bite.
The name reflects folk belief that these insects prey on mosquitoes, though they don't.
The term is chiefly Southern American.
In some regions, mosquito hawk refers instead to dragonflies, which actually do eat mosquitoes.
insect
Tipulid with gangly legs
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- thoraxCentral body cavity
- abdomenTorso's lower cavity
diptera · compound eyes · wingspan · exoskeleton · invertebrate · arthropod · flight · molt
nickname
Tipulid with gangly legs
- daddy longlegsSpindly harmless arachnid
- longlegsExtended lower appendages
- regional slangInformal vocabulary of localities
- misnomerIncorrectly applied designation
crane fly
Tipulid with gangly legs
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- thoraxCentral body cavity
diptera · abdomen · compound eyes · wingspan · exoskeleton · invertebrate · arthropod · flight · molt · chitin
crane fly
Tipulid with gangly legs
- daddy longlegsSpindly harmless arachnid
- longlegsExtended lower appendages
- regional slangInformal vocabulary of localities