Food-Gardening Lessons From A Wartime Victory Garden

Giant Crane Fly

“What is this giant insect? Does it bite? It’s almost 3 inches across!” Question from Mary of Delaware

Answer: Even though it looks like a giant mosquito, this insect is harmless. It is called a giant crane fly (Tipula abdominalis), and it does not bite, sting, or damage plants in any way. Giant crane flies are attracted to night light, so they are often seen around porch or outdoor lights in the summer and fall months.

About JESSIE KEITH

Plants are the lens Jessie views the world through because they’re all-sustaining. (“They feed, clothe, house and heal us. They produce the air we breathe and even make us smell pretty.”) She’s a garden writer and photographer with degrees in both horticulture and plant biology from Purdue and Michigan State Universities. Her degrees were bolstered by internships at Longwood Gardens and the American Horticultural Society. She has since worked for many horticultural institutions and companies and now manages communications for Sun Gro Horticulture, the parent company of Black Gold. Her joy is sharing all things green and lovely with her two daughters.

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