Crane fly (likely a phantom crane fly or tipulid)

Natural Habitat

Damp environments, wetlands, marshes, and areas with decaying organic matter.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae (leatherjackets) eat decaying vegetation or plant roots; adults often do not eat at all or consume nectar.

Behavior Patterns

Poor fliers with long, fragile legs that easily break off (autotomy) to escape predators; often found bobbing in flight near water or lights.

Risks & Benefits

Ecologically beneficial as decomposers and a food source for birds; harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting, though larvae can damage lawns.

Identified on: 2/17/2026