 The
larva
of the cranefly looks much like that of the mosquito larvae,
but is larger and is brown, gray or white and often quite transparent.
They feed on detritus, such as decaying leaves, which accumulates in ponds
or backwater streams. Cranefly larvae breathe through a disk in their tails
and, like mosquitoes, hang downward from the surface film of the water
for breathing.
 Cranefly
adults, which are often mistaken for giant mosquitoes, are actually
harmless. They are long and slender with very long legs. "Mosquito hawk"
is another common name given to the cranefly.
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