What in the heck is this giant insect on my wall?? (pic included)

[happybird]

It is freaking HUGE and on my kitchen wall near the ceiling. Sorry the pic is so blurry, we've got high ceilings and I had to stand on a chair and use the zoom function on my iPad camera.

It's shaped like a giant mosquito and the wings folded on it's back appear to be dark grey and light grey striped. The body is nearly 2 in. long. With the legs included the sucker is at least 4 in. long, probably closer to 5. Wtf.

What is it? Does it bite?
(I'm on the east coast, near DC, if that helps)




Ugh. I hate bugs and don't know how to get rid of it. Too big to squish (and I don't like squishing good bugs) and it's too high to reach to capture and release. I'm scared it's gonna start flying around like a pterodactyl.

[samnsara]

1. we called them skeeter eaters but i dont know why..they are gentle...but so big..

..my dogs bark at them. Im in Wash state and they are everywhere so apparently we all have them. They are actually Crane flies..very gentle.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. Vacuum with a long hose?

[happybird]

7. I did that with a big spider once

and he was alive in the cannister, lol! I have no idea how how it survived the trip through the hose. That hose has serious suction. I have arachnophobia and it was horrifying watching him crawl around in there (Dyson with a clear plastic tank). A usual DH was out of town, like he is every damn time there is a household crisis. I put the vaccuum outside and let him empty it when he got home a couple days later.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

8. Shudder! I would have done the same thing if I had that kind of vacuum!

I only vacuum insects as a last resort, but if it's between them or me...

[pdxflyboy]

3. Google "mosquito hawk"

n/t

[Lochloosa]

4. Mosquito Hawk

https://entomologytoday.org/2015/08/17/mosquito-hawk-skeeter-eater-giant-mosquito-no-no-and-no/


Harmless. And they will die in a few days.

[happybird]

5. That's him!

The first big pic on the left, with the thick legs and big head.

The crane flies I usually see are much, much smaller and look similar to mosquitos but with wasp-like stripes. I didn't realize there were so many varieties. Or they could get so BIG.

Thanks!

[targetpractice]

10. My Dad told me they were Mosquito Hawks...

...East coast regionalism.

[Skittles]

6. crane fly

OMG their erratic way of flying drives me nuts - I catch them in my hand and evict them

[5X]

9. Betty Boop reincarnated...

:large

[montanacowboy]

11. They will do no harm

just let it along unless you can get it outdoors

[ProudLib72]

12. That's your new pet

You can name him whatever you want, but I prefer Carlos the Crane Fly.

Feed him bits of turkey.

[happybird]

13. Ha!

We have discussed the possibilty of something radioactive hidden away in the cellar. We get strangely, stupidly large bugs in here. It ain't normal!

It's centipede season again (yay) and we get the biggest centipedes I have ever seen. Some are so huge they hold their tails (back ends?) curled up over their backs like a scorpion. So gross and creepy. It's a very old house and we think they're coming up from the cellar. Nothing like turning on the bathroom light to see a huge, hairy centipede parked next to the switch, inches away from your hand. Ugh. We also get giant black wood roaches. The cats like them, so at least I don't have to squash them anymore, just remove the carcasses.

I'm sick of monster bugs. It's another reason I am glad to be moving soon.

[ProudLib72]

16. I do not envy you your bug collection!

Centipedes weird me out. I was living with my parents down in Albuquerque between college and grad school. One night at about 3am, I was awakened by something falling on my cheek. I knew damn well what it was. I looked high and low for it. Under the bed, behind the bookcase, etc. I finally lifted the pillow, and there he was: a four inch long centipede curled up. Now I know that's not the biggest centipede in the world, but it landed on my cheek in the middle of the night!

[jpak]

14. And you think you have problems...

[Demovictory9]

17. aeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[Cold War Spook]

15. I usually have about 6 in my house at this time of year.

I don't use any kind of insect spray or traps, but they kept on dying. I thought they were committing suicide.