Mosquito hawks and other oddities

While this was going to be a post about Jalalabad Airfield, strange creatures have invaded my office and begun spastically bouncing all over the place the past few nights, hovering straight into computer screens and eye sockets. Consequently, I must now inform all of the bizzaro insect known (mistakenly) as the mosquito hawk. I was told (again, mistakenly) that the long-legged, lunar-landing-looking hoppers actually eat mosquitos, but had to investigate for myself. I'll let the experts at the Sutter-Yuba Mosquito and Vector Control District explain...

Crane Flies
What people often call "Mosquito-hawks" or "Mosquito-eaters" are actually Crane Flies. Crane Flies do not prey on mosquitoes as many people believe. Crane Flies lay their eggs on the soil. As they hatch and their larvae feed on the bases of grasses. As adults, Crane Flies do not feed. After mating they soon die.

So now you know. And knowing is half the battle!

And I must wish a very happy birthday to my sister Weezy. She is moving on up, once again, but I'm still the one with the apartment on the East Side...you know, when I need a change of pace from a tent in J-bad.