Every so often, I see the reemergence of this or similar Facebook posts.  This one touts the benefits of the mosquito hawk, noting that they eat mosquitoes.  Do they eat mosquitoes?

Sorry to say, when it comes to mosquito control, the mosquito hawk plays no part.  Also known as the “skeeter eater,” the crane fly simply gets a bad social media reputation.  It’s harmless to mosquitoes and humans.  If you see one, you will note its gigantic size, which is probably where the legend comes from.  Compared to mosquitoes, crane flies are enormous.  They look like they might like to devour a mosquito, but they do not.  As a matter of fact, the adult mosquito hawk rarely takes a meal.  If they do eat, they prefer sweet nectar, not mosquitoes.  Crane fly larvae feed on organic plant and leaf waste in wetland areas.

If mosquito hawks do not eat mosquitoes, which animals do?

There are actually a great number of mosquito eaters.  Their predators include everything from insects to mammals.  The dragonfly should be given the name “mosquito hawk,” because they DO eat mosquitoes, as do spiders.  Other natural predators are: opossums, bats, frogs, some birds, some waterfowl, and turtles just to name a few.  Some fish feed on mosquito larvae, so they too, could be considered a natural mosquito predator.  One would think with all these mosquito predators, there would be no need for mosquito control.  That is a myth, just like that of the mosquito hawk.

The dragonfly should be named “mosquito hawk”

Protect your home and family with Central Mass mosquito control.

Dave Macchia, Central Mass Mosquito Control Expert

Chances are, you are seeing mosquitoes around you lawn already.  Adult mosquitoes are looking for a tasty blood meal, and they are not all that discriminating.  They will bite you, your children, your pets!  It’s time for your seasonal mosquito control now.  With the more time we are spending at home these days, at-home mosquito protection is even more essential.  Be sure that you enlist the help of a professional mosquito control company to keep the areas around your home safe this spring and summer.  There are EPA-registered barrier sprays, as well as all-natural mosquito control solutions.  These mosquito sprays should be administered every two or three weeks, minimum.  EPA-registered sprays will kill mosquitoes on contact, and continue doing so with a time-released mosquito control formula.  All-natural solutions, made with a base of essential oils, will repel mosquitoes for about two weeks.

I implore you to start now, and protect your family from nasty mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases.