Nectaring. Crane Fly (male), Tipula lunata, on Anthriscus sylvestris, Wild Chervil, Driemond, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Here's a Crane Fly nectaring on Wild Chervil. I don't know why Crane Flies are often called Mosquito Hawks. I've watched them a good deal but never seen them pursuing Mosquitoes. Now and then Olymp has caught them savoring nectar. This male is doing just that. You can tell he's a male by the thickened abdomen; females have a pointed abdomen where, of course, the ovipositor is located.
PS Indeed, the internet tells me that they don't hunt Mosquitoes.
Nectaring. Crane Fly (male), Tipula lunata, on Anthriscus sylvestris, Wild Chervil, Driemond, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Here's a Crane Fly nectaring on Wild Chervil. I don't know why Crane Flies are often called Mosquito Hawks. I've watched them a good deal but never seen them pursuing Mosquitoes. Now and then Olymp has caught them savoring nectar. This male is doing just that. You can tell he's a male by the thickened abdomen; females have a pointed abdomen where, of course, the ovipositor is located.
PS Indeed, the internet tells me that they don't hunt Mosquitoes.