A morning visitor at front door

[debodun]

It caught my eye because of its size. The body was about ¾ inch and the wingspan 1¼ inch, but what got me were the enormously long legs. A little online research identified it as a cranefly. A pretty common bug, but I've never knowingly seen one before. It was gone by 9 am - off to do its buggy business.

 

[Murrmurr]

We've always called those mosquito hawks because it's believed they eat mosquitos....but they don't.

Some people call them skeeter-eaters. But, again, they don't eat skeeters. Some of 'em eat mosquito larvae, though. But mostly, they burrow into your yard and eat the lawn.

 

[George1959]

We have them too once in a while. But they are harmless.
Are Crane Flies Harmful? Debunking Myths and Revealing Facts

 

[EmptyCup]

From the Middle Triassic period - 245 million years! No worries. They only live a couple weeks to mate and die. And don’t bite.

We have them here in early spring. Long gone.

 

[Remy]

I like them. But I like most bugs. Flies and wasps inside are doomed however. Orange cleaning spray works great.

 

[Quackers]

We have those in the UK, they're called daddylong legs here!

 

[Nathan]

Those are common here, also a red flying insect that's probably half the size, which is a type of harmless wasp.