HOUSTON — With how nice this weather has been maybe some of you have been leaving a door or window open to enjoy it.
However, that may also mean finding some big bugs in your home. We're talking about crane flies, often referred to as “mosquito hawks” due to their size and appearance.
Whatever you call them, they're huge, and right now, they're everywhere thanks to our humidity and our bayous.
However, these latest swarms might mean more opportunities for leaving that door open.
According to Janet Hurley with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, a booming population of crane flies means that spring is here.
That's because their life cycles start in the spring months when the weather is warmer and we're seeing more rainy days.
Once crane flies reach adulthood, they have a short lifespan, according to the AgriLife Extension Service. Most of their lifespan is spent at the larval stage. They can live for up to three years at this stage in moist soils, feeding on organic matter.
If one goes into your home, don’t worry. They are completely harmless and quite fragile. The AgriLife Extension said they do not feed as adults. They also don’t have a stinger.
When adults do feed, it is likely a male who feeds on nectar to have the energy to fly around looking for females, experts said.
If you want to keep them at bay and out of your house, make sure your yard is tidy and not overgrown, and make sure the areas around your home are draining properly.