What Is This Insect?

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?

Cranefly

Harmless, but I still hate the things.

Linky

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?

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

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.