 Backyard Farming in the River Valley Podcast
April 1, 2009
Skeeter Eaters (3:01 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Dustin Blakey
County Extension Agent - Agriculture[Title slide - River Valley Gardening,
Skeeter Eaters, Dustin Blakey County Extension Agent for the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture]
[Dustin] As winter gives way to spring, it’s not uncommon for creatures to
come out of the woodwork and find their way inside your formerly peaceful,
bug-free home. Hi, this is Dustin Blakey, County Agent with the University of
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
A common invader in late March and early April is the harmless crane fly.
[Pictures of crane flies]
Crane flies are the adult form of a family of insects in the same order as
flies and mosquitos. They have 2 wings and extremely long legs and resemble some
kind of giant, Texas-sized mosquito. The insect family that includes crane flies
has over 1,500 species in North America alone so when when we talk about crane
flies, we’re not just speaking about 1 particular pest, but a whole bunch of
similar ones.
Crane flies go by many names, but "skeeter-eaters" and "mosquito hawks" seem
the most common; however, neither is an accurate description of their feeding
habits. Adult crane flies have been seen with their heads in flowers, presumably
feeding on nectar, but they are not known to bite, feed on other animals, or
cause any type of harm to people. [Pictures of adult crane flies feeding on
flowers]
Crane flies certainly do not feed on mosquitos as adults. [Video of a cat
batting and chasing a fly] Although you would never suspect it from peoples’
reactions to crane flies, the primary role of adult crane flies is reproduction
and egg-laying, not feeding. Freaking out cats and children by bouncing all over
the walls is not even on their mind, just fun side effect.
Crane flies usually begin to appear indoors sometime in March in our area,
when the weather starts to warm up, and I’ll see them throughout the entire
spring. [Picture of several crane flies on a wall]
The larvae of crane flies can usually be found outdoors in wet places but
their preference varies by species. [Picture of a crane fly larvae] It’s not
hard to find the grayish, cylindrical larvae in mulched flower beds in January
and February if you go looking for them. This is the part of crane flies’ life
cycle that feeds and grows, shedding its skin in several instars. They are, for
the most part, harmless to the landscape.
I would classify crane flies as a nuisance rather than a real pest of
households. They are harmless and not very smart. Nothing to worry about, for
sure. [Picture of a crane fly]
[Dustin] If you have a problem with crane flies right now, I can give you
some expensive ideas for control, but your best defense is to make sure your
windows are very well screened, also make sure that your doors that go to the
outside have good weather stripping and of course make sure that you keep your
doors shut at all times. There is no reason to leave them open and let the bugs
come in.
[Pictures of crane flies] If you suspect you will have a problem in
subsequent years--and you know where the larvae are overwintering--homeowner
products that have permethrin are usually effective against fly larvae in the
landscape, but I wouldn’t expect the problem to go away since their habitats are
just too numerous.
You’re better off worrying about something else than crane flies.
If you have questions about this critter - or any other - contact your county
Extension office.
[Title slide] For more information contact your County Extension Office
dblakey@uaex.edu.
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