Crane flies – doh!

See the picture below. It's a Crane Fly or more commonly known as Daddy Long Legs. I don't know how widespread these critters are throughout the world but in Manchester this year there are literally billions. The main characteristics of Crane Flies are they are rubbish at flying, have no sense of direction, love (I mean really love) electric light and their legs fall of at the merest touch. In Manchester UK we normally see a few of them around August September time and then that's pretty much it; I don't know whether it's something to do with the weather but this year there are loads of them. The annoying thing is they only appear when it's so warm you have to have your house windows open - we don't have air con, but my wife is so petrified of them we have to have the windows shut and so we frazzle in the heat. Although I'm a little bit scared of them I'm willing to fight with one to protect my family.

Is the Daddy Long Legs phenomenon peculiar to my house, Manchester, the UK, Europe or is it a Global problem?

Regards,
Simon
crane_fly.jpg   53.97KB   79 downloads

but my wife is so petrified of them we have to have the windows shut and so we frazzle in the heat.

What about window-screens mate ? We can't live without them in Terzo d'Aquileia.

Simon.

I have to agree about the current Northwest Daddy Long-legs invasion, I live in Rochdale and since last weekend I have seen dozens of them, there were 4 expired ones on the living room carpet when I came home from work yesterday and its a similar story upstairs ! I think they may be on a mass exodus from Yorkshire !

This is the one insect I cannot stand, They are just do creepy with their legs dangling when they fly around!!

I woke up last night at 2am, to the sound of something in my room, turned the light on, and there was one flying around, so there was me running around the room in my nightie trying to hit the thing with a badminton racquet. I got it in the end though!!

I don't know how true this is, but I have heard that the crane fly is the most poisonous insect in the UK, but they don't have the strength to bite through skin, so they are harmless!! Suppose it could be true, at least it is one way to try and rationalise my irrational fear of the creatures!!

Nadine

I don't know how true this is, but I have heard that the crane fly is the most poisonous insect in the UK, but they don't have the strength to bite through skin, so they are harmless!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Imagine if they could break through skin. How scary would that be? An out of control, bungling, long legged monster with poisonous fangs spiralling frenziedly towards you in the half light. Not a nice thought.

Roll on winter.

What about window-screens mate ? We can't live without them in Terzo d'Aquileia.

Really Franco since you moved house you've become such an intolerable snob.

Simon

Climate to increase British flies who knows ?

Stop bugging the poor crane flies. Hell....just put in an air-condition unit.
Now that would please the wife, won't it.


Charles Chew

Stop bugging the poor crane flies. Hell....just put in an air-condition unit.
Now that would please the wife, won't it.

Charles I have a feeling you're not familiar with the weather in Manchester.

Simon,

Can it be hotter than where I come from. I practically have the air condition unit on from the day I start work and then, the (4) home units would be working like a work horse thorugh out the night.

Yeah right! Am I not familiar with hot weather

Charles Chew

Simon,

Can it be hotter than where I come from. I practically have the air condition unit on from the day I start work and then, the (4) home units would be working like a work horse thorugh out the night.

Yeah right! Am I not familiar with hot weather

Charles Chew

You really aren't familiar with our weather are you. When it's not raining here it's either about to or just finished and then we have two weeks of freezing and two weeks of hot sun mixed with a little rain. Nobody has air conditioning in the UK we're all stupid. You've probably never heard of it Charles but we have gas central heating systems. Yes we try and kill ourselves with gas (and some do).

Simon

we have two weeks of freezing and two weeks of hot sun mixed with a little rain

Okay.......you win! I am really not familiar with this sort of weather and do not understand why it is like that.

Where is this place again.....did you say, Manchester. Weather forecast must be pretty preditable but I guess the football players are more consistent then the weather huh!

Charles Chew