Why do mosquito hawk bite?

That inch-long, gangly-legged insect that sneaks into your house and bounces around the walls and ceiling is a crane fly, and despite rumors to the contrary, it is neither a predator of mosquitoes nor a colossal mosquito. And it's harmless. read more

I grew up calling them mosquito hawks and will continue to do so. Common names for the same organism can and often do vary from location to location, and two completely unrelated organisms may share the same common name. read more

The truth is, though they may be scary, these insects NEVER bite people. They don’t require blood to develop their eggs, unlike mosquitoes. read more

A mosquito bite can mean much more than a few days of itching. For some people, they can cause severe allergic reactions. Plus, there are mosquito-transmitted illnesses. The West Nile virus made its first appearance in the U.S. in 1999. That year, New York confirmed 62 cases and seven deaths. read more