What Is This Insect?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve seen these insects around here in Northern California for several years. One is flying around here as I speak, but I can’t swat the bugger or get it on film to post a pic to help in IDing it.

Ok, it looks like a mosquito, but it is GIANT. We’re talking a half-dollar size wing-span. Also the wings are slightly different. I have never seen one bite anyone either. We’ve had a bunch get in our house recently, and yet to have a bite.

I was told by a friend it was a “mosquito hawk” and it looks like a mosquito in order to lure real mosquitos in and eat them. But mosquito hawks are birds, so I think they were on crack.

I used to live on a swamp in CT, and believe me, I’ve seen my share of skeeters. I’ve never seen one this size or quite like this outside of CA.

Might it be a GIANT skeeter of some type? A female mosquito? A clever mosquito-eating look-alike?

I wish I could get a picture of the bugger. It’s driving me nuts. Anyone have a guess about what this thing might be?

2

Cranefly

Harmless, but I still hate the things.

Linky

3

Are you sure it’s really not a mosquito hawk? Wikipedia says that “mosquito hawk” refers to either a dragonfly or a crane fly. Is that what you’re talking about?

4

Further image searches reveal this is exactly what it is. Ahhhh…the sweet relief of no more brain itching from curiousity…

5

We always called them “gallnippers,” though if you want to look it up, you would probably do better with an internet search than with a dictionary. It’s etymology seems to be old south or possibly American Indian.