These photographs were taken today in Marseille, in the Mediterranean coast of France. My French friends inform me that these beasties are called cousins because they are "cousins" of mosquitoes (whatever that means).
The thing is, we are absolutely infested by them. They seem to be more active at dawn and dusk (like mosquitoes) but we have dozens flying around the house every evening. I would like to know the species' name to see if I can learn anything about them. Do they have cycles like cicadas? Are they linked to stagnant waters like mosquitoes? Why are there so many of them this year?
Here's one with my hand next to it to give you an indication of their size:
Answer
It is indeed a Crane fly, superfamily Tipuloidea, which is part of two-winged insects (Diptera). There are >15000 species worldwide. Their systematics is somewhat uncertain (used to be a single family, now a superfamily). They are placed in the same suborder as mosquitoes (Nematocera). The adults feed on nectar or not at all (they do not prey on mosquitoes), and the larvae usually feeds on litter, roots, fungi etc, but some aquatic species are predatory. Larvae of some species develop in soil and others in water. Adults of many species are attracted by light, which is why you often find them inside houses. I dont know why you find so many this year where you live, but winter conditions affecting survival is a possible explanation.
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