100 Species #97: Winter crane fly
This winter crane fly (Trichocera sp. perhaps) was one of three that was perched on our kitchen wall. One was killed in flight under the misapprehension that it was a mosquito.
Crane flies are more well-known for resembling mosquitoes than for anything else they might do. Most often we talk about the really big crane flies, and whether they eat mosquitoes (no) or if they are male mosquitoes (no) and so on. But winter crane flies are close to the size of mosquitoes, and even fly in a similar way. When my friend killed one thinking it was a bloodsucker, I consoled her thus: it probably would have slowly died of dehydration indoors anyway, don't worry. Is that helpful? Maybe, maybe not. Crane flies sometimes get indoors after following or being disoriented by lights. Becoming active in late fall means they avoid many predators, barring mistaken identity.
There are about 30 species of winter crane fly in North America--I would have needed to provide a good clear picture of the wing venation to identify this one to species.
The winter crane fly was both 50 urban species #2 and Urban Nature Picture day 20.