Winged Spring Thing

It appeared to be the invasion of the big mosquito's over the last week or so.  They were everywhere.  In the lawn, in the woods.  Did not matter morning or evening the big guys (gals) were there.  Funny mating position, they hooked up tail to tail and would fly that way, land that way or just, well, stayed that way till they were done.  Like most insects after mating they had accomplished their life's goal and they would soon spin out and die becoming good food for the local birds. So their part of the circle of life would continue even in death.  Funny how nature is that way.  You must die to live.  Everything has its life and then in dying you live.  Amazing! 


 




So curiosity got me thinking about just what these big mosquitoes were called.  My wife told me they were called Mosquito Hawks.  I went to the http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740 and sure enough that seems to be one of the names of this insect.  Score one for my NBW (Non Birding Wife)


Now if you know this big guy (gal) by a different name just send it along in comments below.


Bear in mind that I am, at best, an amateur naturalist who tries to get my info correct.  I like to poke around in the woods to see what I can find and above all I love birds and birding. I then love to share this with you.  So if my info needs correcting just share it below. 

"Mosquito Hawk" is a Crane Fly - Tipula oleracea -