What some unluckily mistake to be a “Giant Mosquito”, may actually be a quite common insect called Pedicia albivitta, or the Giant Eastern Crane Fly.  These Crane Flies has a distinctive design on their wing that looks like a droopy eye.  It has long legs, compared to its size, and very delicate-looking wings that make for a rough flight. Giant Eastern Crane Flies are located in the Eastern United States, hence the name. Scientists have found that Giant Eastern Crane Flies are unique, common in their environment, and quite low on the food chain.

When you look rather closely, the Giant Eastern Crane Fly is a very unique insect. Its body length is at least one and a half inches, its wingspan is over three inches, and its leg span is almost 4 inches. The Giant Eastern Crane Fly’s colors are usually shades of brown with white details. Some Giant Eastern Crane Flies have adapted to living indoors and outdoors, thanks to their human neighbors. They are identified by the strange design on their wings that belongs to no other species of Crane Fly. This species proves to be one of a kind.

The Giant Eastern Crane Fly is abundant in its Northeastern American habitat. It ranges from at least as south as North Carolina and north to Southeastern Canada, then west to Minnesota, and fills the space within those boundaries all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Giant Eastern Crane Flies have a stable population despite being killed by humans often. They require no conservation and are plentiful.  They are the most common Crane Fly.

Giant Eastern Crane Flies are very low on the food chain.  Technically, the Giant Eastern Crane fly is an herbivore, eating nectar when it needs to. However, the Giant Eastern Crane Fly does not regularly eat as they exist only to mate and act as prey. They have no definite mouth. The Giant Eastern Crane Flies are prey to many animals including birds, frogs, lizards, spiders, and other insects. Therefore, Giant Eastern Crane Flies are extremely low on the food chain.

In most cases, Giant Eastern Crane Flies have little importance. They are food to many organisms but exist only to mate and die. Their unique wings, along with their range, stand out and define this species. The most common Crane Fly may be the most unique, even at its low spot on the food chain.

Author: Brennen M.
Published:2/2013

Sources:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/32175
http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2010/10/23/giant-eastern-crane-fly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_fly
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/cranefly/printerpages/pf-Collman-CFintro.htm
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Photo by Tom Murry ©2009, http://bugguide.net/node/view/275584/bgimage