How closely are crane flies and mosquitoes related?

Both crane flies and mosquitoes are both "Flies" so they are in the same insect order - Diptera. However they are in totally different Families; crane flies are Tipulidae and mosquitoes are Culicidae. read more

Both crane flies and mosquitoes are both "Flies" so they are in the same insect order - Diptera. However they are in totally different Families; crane flies are Tipulidae and mosquitoes are Culicidae. The mosquitoes of course have mouth parts that are designed to penetrate flesh and suck up blood from their victims. read more

There are other crane flies that fall outside the Tipulidae and Pediciidae families, but they are not as closely related. These include the phantom crane flies, winter crane flies, and primitive crane flies (Ptychopteridae, Trichoceridae, and Tanyderidae, respectively). read more