The Gollywhoppers are Back!

  My job lately has been to paint the new siding that is being installed on the Little Bayou House.  As soon as Mark and Son get a part completed, I slap a coat of paint on it. I do not mind painting as it is a mindless task and, as I paint, my brain can wander where it pleases.  Also, since I am standing on a scaffolding to reach the upper portions of the house, I have a wonderful view of the hillside.  This makes for all sorts of interesting photo opportunities so the camera goes up with me.

  While slinging that paintbrush, I found that I had a visitor.  A critter came up the wall in a bouncy sort of way.  The bug even bounced on the freshly painted board and then on my shoulder.  This caused me a bit of worry since I thought perhaps its next encounter would be my paint bucket.  I shooed the critter softly to the drier portion of the siding where it bounced for a few moments before settling down to rest in the shade. Wow!  From my perspective, this looked a lot like a huge mosquito!  I was sure thankful that I recognized it as Crane Fly and did not have to do a bunch of slapping or dodging this one like I do with the actual mosquitoes!

  I find it humorous that so many names have been attached to this poor critter.  Crane Fly, Skeeter, Mosquito Hawk, Gollywhopper and Skeeter Eater are just a few of the names that people have attached to the poor bug.  (My favorite being Gollywhopper!  Love that name!)  Then again, there are countless myths of how this critter can inflict a terribly painful bite or sting so having countless names only stands to reason!  The part about biting or stinging is just plain not so.  The critter does not even have a biting part to its mouth!  About all it can do is sip nectar or water.

  My little friend kept me company for the entire morning and then flitted...bounced...wobbled its way to the shady area beneath the wisteria arbor.  This one was waiting to find a companion so it could mate and let life continue for the Crane Fly species.  Bounce on, Little Friend.

Gollywhoppers!

Mosquito Hawks...Skeeter Eaters...Gollywhoppers...and yes, even..Giant Mosquitoes! All of these are names given to the Crane Fly. First we will set the record straight. Though it does resemble a mosquito that it about the size of Texas, this is not a mosquito..not even a Giant Mosquito! Nor is it a Mosquito Hawk. That name is more aptly applied to a Dragonfly since they actually do eat mosquitoes. Likewise for the moniker..Skeeter Eater. The same reason applies..they do not dine on the pesky biters! That said, I am willing to go along with the Gollywhoppers! I sort of like that name even better than Crane Fly! There is a certain ring to that word that slides right off the tongue as smooth as silk! I am supposing that this was attached to the poor Crane Fly by those same folks that seem to believe it is a huge, overgrown mosquito. I can just hear some guy out fishing when a Crane Fly lands on the tip of his pole... " Golly! There sure are great big skeeters out here on the Bayou...just look at that Gollywhopper!"

The good thing about Crane Flies is they do not bite! That brings them far into the favorite insect category for me! Living on the Bayou, I find more than my fair share of biting critters. I do not need another. So early this morning when I came across this Crane Fly on the fence by the hotbed, I breathed a sigh of relief. Nice going, Crane Fly..you can stay. I weeded the little tomato plants that were coming up in the hotbed without worrying about that thing making a meal out of my blood! I don't believe the Crane Fly could have done too much damage anyway as the cool, moist air had it rather sluggish. As matter of fact, these flies feed on nectar if they feed at all as adults. Adulthood for them is very short and most of it is spent procreating. There is just no time to track down some likely meal! The bad thing about Crane Flies is that some larvae do a lot of damage to lawns. While not all species do, some of the leatherbacks, as they are called, feed upon the roots of most grasses. Most, however, feed on decaying organic matter. The larvae of the most common Crane Flies can be found in mulch piles and the decomposing leaf matter that piles up under trees. They usually prefer a moist area but any place will do in a pinch! I figure if that is all the harm they evoke upon the World...they are friends! Don't bite..eat dead leaves..sounds like a fine critter to have around!

I am happy to say the Crane Fly stayed on the fence long enough for the sun to warm its body to a movable state and then it sort of flittered away. This fly is not the most able of fliers so it hob-bobbled along hunting for a suitable mate to spend the rest of its adult life being....well..an adult!