BuzzSkito Mosquito & Tick Control Specialists · Published April 28, 2026 · Updated July 12, 2026
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Do Mosquito Hawks Eat Mosquitoes?
No — crane fly “mosquito hawks” do not eat mosquitoes at any life stage. This is the single most repeated myth about the insect, and it is simply wrong. Adult crane flies have reduced, non-functional mouthparts and mostly don’t feed at all in their few days of life; a few species sip a little nectar. Their larvae are vegetarians that chew on plant roots and decaying matter in soil — nowhere near mosquito larvae, which live in water. The confusion comes entirely from the crane fly’s uncanny resemblance to a giant mosquito, plus the fact that in some regions the dragonfly (a true mosquito predator) shares the same “mosquito hawk” nickname. If you actually want insects eating your mosquitoes, you want dragonflies and bats, not crane flies.
Are Mosquito Hawks Dangerous?
No. Mosquito hawks are completely harmless to humans, pets, and livestock. Crane flies cannot bite or sting — they have no venom, no stinger, and no piercing mouthparts. They carry no diseases and pose no threat to people or animals. Contrary to another common myth, they are not the “most venomous insect in the world” (that internet claim is completely false). The only damage they ever cause is cosmetic: in heavy infestations, the soil-dwelling larvae can chew grass roots and leave brown patches in a lawn. For the vast majority of homeowners, a mosquito hawk is nothing more than a clumsy, harmless visitor.
Why the “Mosquito Hawk” Name?
Crane flies look like giant mosquitoes — long bodies, long legs, fragile wings. The mistaken assumption was: they look bigger and scarier, so they must eat the smaller mosquitoes. This is folk biology, not actual biology. The name “mosquito hawk” is regional — you’ll also hear “daddy long-legs” (which is technically incorrect — the actual daddy long-legs is a different arachnid), “skeeter eaters,” or “gallinippers.” All wrong. They’re crane flies (family Tipulidae).
What Crane Flies Actually Do
Adults (5–10 days)
Adult crane flies have one purpose: mate and lay eggs. Most species don’t feed at all as adults. A few species sip nectar from flowers but provide negligible pollination services. They are clumsy fliers — attracted to lights, easily caught by spiders, and often found dead on porches and windowsills. Their long legs are fragile and frequently break off mid-flight. This vulnerability is why they live so briefly.
Larvae (9–11 months)
Crane fly larvae — called “leatherjackets” in lawn-care contexts — live in soil and eat plant roots, decaying leaves, and organic matter. They’re grey-brown, tube-shaped, and 25–40 mm long when mature. In light infestations they cause no visible damage. In heavy infestations they can cause brown patches in lawns, especially in fall and early spring.
When Are They Active in Ontario?
- Spring emergence (April–May): Smaller wave. Adults you see in early spring before mosquito season really starts.
- Fall emergence (September–October): Larger wave. This is when most Ontario homeowners notice clouds of crane flies near porch lights and on building exteriors. They look ominous but are completely harmless.
How to Get Rid of Mosquito Hawks (Indoors & Outdoors)
Indoors: adults in the house
Adult crane flies that wander inside are harmless and short-lived, so the gentlest fix is usually the best one:
- Let them out. Turn off indoor lights, open a door or window, and switch on an outdoor light — they drift toward it and leave on their own.
- Wait them out. Adults only live 5–10 days, so any stragglers die naturally within days.
- Vacuum the odd one off a wall or ceiling — their fragile legs make them easy to collect.
- Seal the entry points. Repair torn window and door screens and swap porch bulbs for yellow “bug lights,” which attract far fewer flying insects.
If you’d rather not wait for a batch of them to clear out on their own, a quick knock-down spray does the job: Check indoor flying-insect spray on Amazon.ca → For a harmless insect that dies in days regardless, it’s rarely necessary — but it’s an option if they’re bothering you.
Outdoors: larvae in the lawn
Outdoors, “getting rid of mosquito hawks” only matters if the soil-dwelling larvae (leatherjackets) are chewing your grass roots. Spraying the clumsy adults is pointless — they don’t bite, they die in days, and an adult-mosquito barrier spray won’t reach larvae living underground. The section below covers how to confirm a real larvae problem and treat it.
Do You Need to Treat Them?
Almost never. Adults die naturally in days. The only situation requiring action is heavy larvae damage to your lawn, identified by:
- Brown patches in the grass that spread over weeks
- Flocks of starlings, robins, or crows aggressively pecking the lawn (they’re eating leatherjackets)
- Visible larvae when you peel back grass — grey-brown tube-shaped grubs
Treatment for larvae infestations: beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) applied in early fall when soil is warm and moist. These naturally parasitize crane fly larvae. Available at garden centres, through lawn care companies, or online: Beneficial nematodes on Amazon.ca → BuzzSkito does not treat crane fly larvae — we focus on mosquitoes and ticks. Contact a lawn care specialist (LawnSavers, TruGreen) for serious crane fly issues.
Why This Matters for Mosquito Control
People with mosquito problems sometimes ask: “Should I introduce mosquito hawks to eat my mosquitoes?” The answer is no — they don’t eat mosquitoes. The biological controls that DO eat mosquitoes:
- Bats — eat 600–1,000 mosquitoes per night per bat. Install a bat box.
- Dragonflies — adults catch mosquitoes mid-flight; larvae eat mosquito larvae in water.
- Fish — goldfish, koi, mosquitofish eat mosquito larvae in ponds.
- Frogs and tadpoles — eat mosquito larvae in shallow water.
Even with all of these, the most effective residential mosquito control combines larvae control with BTI dunks and adult control with professional barrier spray. Hoping crane flies will solve your mosquito problem is folklore — for a plan that actually works, see how to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard.
