Sunday Bugs: Crane Fly

This almost looks like a little golden dragon.  It's an adult crane fly, those giant sloppy flying insects that look like mosquitos on steroids.  Adult crane flies only survive a few days, just long enough to mate.  Their snout-like mouthparts are incapable of piercing, so they can't bite.  Crane fly larvae serve an important role in the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter and enriching the soil, and adults serve as food for a wide variety of birds, reptiles and amphibians.





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