Subject: Stunging crane fly
Location: Wimberley, Texas
April 7, 2017 7:09 pm
I take crane flies out all the time. I was stung by Image 1 a few nights ago. I was so shocked bc it had NEVER happened to me or my children EVER! You can see the sting on my palm in image 2. Image 3 is another crane fly without a stinger–which is what the majority of mine look like! What’s up with that stinger? Im guessing one is male and one is female? It was quite a sting. I can still see the mark three days later.
Signature: Kristina Minor
Dear Kristina,
For years we have received reports of Crane Flies stinging individuals, and after verifying that impossibility with Dr Chen Young, we have speculated that the actual culprit is a Short-Tailed Ichneumon which does resemble a Crane Fly. Your account is the first we have received that actually contained an image of the Crane Fly that reportedly stung (or bit) an individual, as well as an image of the irritated area on the body. Furthermore, you seem quite familiar with Crane Flies, so we can’t help but to give your report credibility. This does go against all we have learned of Crane Flies. For that reason we will forward your information and images to Dr. Chen Young, a noted Crane Fly expert, to get his input. The antennae on the individual you say resembles the majority of your Crane Flies are more developed, leading us to believe that is a male. Stinging insects are generally female and a modified ovipositor, an organ used to lay eggs, is the stinging body part.
Eric Eaton weighs in.
The “stinging” crane fly is simply a female. I suppose a jab from her ovipositor might *feel* like a sting, but they are certainly not venomous. The other crane fly with the bulbous rear end is a male.
Eric
author, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
http://bugeric.blogspot.com/
That was one heck of a “jab.” I still have the mark and I’m here to tell you it hurt for a while. Ive attached the picture to show you what it looks like today–several days later. When it happened, like image 2 in my previous email, it was white around the “sting” area and very red spreading from there. That sure seems like a reaction to something? Could they have evolved? ;). Getting smarter? Wanting to survive? LOL
Dear Kristina,
Thanks for providing a follow-up image of your “jab” after several days. We will try to do some additional research. According to the Crane Flies of Pennsylvania: “The larvae are found in a wide variety of habitats, varying from strictly aquatic to terrestrial, even relatively dry soil. Their habitats include fresh water in fast-flowing streams, marshes, springs, meadows, seeps, tree holes, algal growth or mosses on rock faces near water, organic mud and decaying vegetable debris along the shores of streams and ponds, accumulated decomposed leaves and rotting wood on the forest floor, and occasionally soil in lawn and pastures.” Since the ovipositor is an organ the female uses while laying eggs, and since the stingers of stinging insects like wasps and bees is a modified ovipositor, we do not want to rule out the possibility that the ovipositor of a Crane Fly species that lays eggs in rotting wood might also penetrate human skin.
Entomologist and Crane Fly Specialist Dr. Chen Young Responds
Dear Daniel,
All I can say is that whatever stung Kristina was not a crane fly. The ovipositor of female crane fly is not a defensive weapon but an egg laying apparatus, usually blunt instead of sharp at the end.
Chen Young
I, too, was recently “stung” by a crane fly. I have handled them for many years believing they were unable to sting, yet this crane like fly stung similarly to what was reported in the other post. It hurt a lot and was red and sore for days. Would love to find clarification!
I too have been “stung” by an insect that resembled a crane fly.
Time to gather some video and some specimens I suppose…
I too have been “stung” by an insect that resembled a crane fly.
Time to gather some video and some specimens I suppose…
Hello! I was just stung, or “jabbed” as well, with my story nearly identical to the original poster! I was glad to see I was not alone. I am also in Texas, south of Houston, and have never had this happen before. I have handled bugs, and crane flies my entire life, so I was shocked. I have a photo image as well if any entomologists need proof.
And I still have the insect.
We have no entomologists on our staff, but we do consult with entomologists. Please send your images using the Ask What’s That Bug? link on our site.
I am sorry Chen Young, but you are wrong. I dare you to grab a large female Crane Fly with your bare hand. Feel free to come to my house where you will be stung by Crane Flys. And I do agree they are not venomous however the female will penetrate skin and “poop” under your skin. I have verified all of this for years but never felt like google searching it until now. So for those of you who are being stung, you are being hit with the female end that can penetrate wood to lay eggs. Feel free to reach out if you feel I am wrong and I would be happy to educate you.
i want stung but my question is do the females show agression in other ways. ive been arond crane flys my whole life in minnesota and here in missouri ive encountered a large crane fly that charges at me like trying to attack..not like the typical bouncing around against walls but would watch me for a few mins then fly staight at me over and over and would fly else where..so that why i wonder if the the females show aggression when they are about to lay eggs or maybe protective of area by where thay lay eggs..
Andrea I had this happen to me as well the crane fly was blood red and seemed very aggressive it came out of no where and wouldn’t leave me alone I tried to run back to my room and it followed me trying to sting me
I was just stung or “jabbed” by one of these and it hurt!
I too was recently stung. Depending on the time of year, and how long the back door has been left open in the evening, it isn’t uncommon for me to find 3 or 4 floating around the house at any given time. For the last 30+ years, whenever I find one within reach, I gently cup it in my hand, open the back door, toss it out, and watch it fly away. Over the last year or two, I’ve noticed that some of these crane flies are a little bit different in appearance. While most of them have straight bodies, I’m beginning to see more and more with butts that are curved up. Other than that, they look the same to me. While carrying one of these buggers outside a few months ago, I was stung in the hand. And when I say ‘stung’, I don’t mean that it felt like a mosquito bite. No. The pain was almost as sharp as a bee sting. Not quite, but close. If the scientists want us all to believe that we all evolved from the birds and the bees, to the elk and the trees, and that a pelican evolved into a hippo, do you suppose it might just be possible that some of these crane flies may have evolved a stinger?
Hi!:-)
Today i felt a sting on my back, I waved my hand and killed the bug that stung me. And it was a crane fly.. I tought it was something else,since cran flyes are not supose to sting. But I sent a picture of the bug to a entomologist,and he told that it was a crane fly, and they dont sting. Well yes they do! Its very very painfull.. no one believes me,but i know that that was what stung me. . i hope i never experience that again..
Hi!:-)
Today i felt a sting on my back, I waved my hand and killed the bug that stung me. And it was a crane fly.. I tought it was something else,since cran flyes are not supose to sting. But I sent a picture of the bug to a entomologist,and he told that it was a crane fly, and they dont sting. Well yes they do! Its very very painfull.. no one believes me,but i know that that was what stung me. . i hope i never experience that again..
I, too, was stung by a crane fly. Call it what you want; a jab, poke, whatever. It hurt badly and my reaction was to smash it. I sent a pic to the local university, and they confirmed it as a crane fly. I no longer handle them!
Was ABSOLUTELY stung by a Crane Fly. Ouch. Two days later and I have a big, itchy, red welt.
I was stung again. This time I looked more closely at it. It was a stinging ichneumon. Bugman was right. My apologies.
Thanks for letting us know.
I work in a warehouse next to a swampy oceanfront area. I see at least one or two of these a day, and recently decided to start killing the ones I saw. The same day I purposely killed one, I was stung by the next one I tried to kill. The bite was about an inch diameter, white hard lump, with about another inch red around that. It happened as I was swatting at it…itchiest bite/sting/whatever ever! Take into consideration that species evolve defensively.
You’re a moron!
Leave them be.
Karma.
I just encountered a Crane Fly high up on the ceiling in our hallway. Not sure what it was (I only identified it after an internet search), I swatted it down with a broom….it fell to the floor injured and as I bent down to pick it up, I saw the “stinger” or ovipositor probing back and forth. I was somewhat surprised as the insect did not resemble a wasp, but the stinger – barb thing was definitely moving like that of a wasp/hornet. I was fortunately not stung like some of the other posters.
I have also seen the stinger/ovipositor. I believe I’ve either seen an insect that isn’t a crane fly or there are species with an adaptation. Something that looks the way the ovipositor is described (elongated, blunt tube) emerges from the posterior of the insect when it is grabbed. The insect curls up as if trying to bring its posterior nearer to where I am gripping it. It probes around. But a much smaller (though still visible to the naked eye) and definitely sharp stinger-looking object emerges either out of the ovipositor or from underneath it. It moves in and out and looks for all the world like it is trying to find purchase in something. (ME!) I have also not been stung yet, but I’d just as soon avoid that, as reading from these other posters, doesn’t sound fun!
Oh, meant to mention that this was in Montana. I’ve seen many of these critters here, and I’ve grabbed them many times. It is always the same as described above.
I was stung 2 days ago by a crane fly and it wasn’t even because I was trying to handle it. I was sitting outside minding my own business and it flew at me landing on my wrist then stung me. It was a pretty painful sting. Today it is super swollen and very itchy. My boyfriend was stung on his hand last year when he tried to catch one to release it outside. I don’t know why everyone keeps saying they don’t sting when clearly they do.
I’m here in canton Texas and after a couple of weeks of removing these guys with no incident, I was finally stung. Totally shocked I screamed ! It packs a nice little walp. Worse than a bee but not as bad as a wasp. VERY SHOCKING!
me to, but it was red.
i got a bite todat.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
me to, but it was red.
i got a bite todat.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Ok obviosly these crane flys bite!! Stop telling us they dont. My daughter was litterally just bit or stung in the chin by one and i had to kill it. Knowone can make me believe by any scientific anything that this dis not just happen. I believe what i see not what someone is trying to convince me. And she cried. It hurts and her chin is now red and swollen. I will be killing everyone i see from this point on.
We are terribly sorry about your daughters unfortunate encounter.
We have always relied upon the opinion of one of the most recognized Dipterists specializing in Crane Flies for our responses, but the numerous challenges and testimonials otherwise we regularly receive has created doubt, so we pose some alternate possibilities:
A. Mutant insects that mimic Crane Flies and have evolved to protect Mother Earth to save her from mankind.
B. Russian drones.
C. Corporal manifestations from an alternate Universe.
D. Mass Hysteria
E. Other
Bugman.. You are an idiot. Not even worth a reply but seeing your mindless attempt at a reply, i will tell you that your source is obviously not up to speed on any of the habits of the female crane fly as you like you want to believe he is. I dont believe what i hear or by far what i read but i do believe in what i see. Goodbye felicia.
Then what does it make you if you are interacting with an “idiot” site? Buzz off.
all my life, I’ve believed these things to be harmless. got one in our camper van two nights ago, and cought it to put it out and wow, it bit or stung me. no idea which but it did hurt quite a bit, I shrieked loudly! the spot it got me on my palm was briefly red, but didn’t stay irritated for too long, it was gone by the next morning. the pain was bothersome for 10 to 15 minutes but then subsided. felt almost like burning, with waves of feeling something similar to an adrenaline rush. not something I wish to experience again, I will not handle anything like this again. unfortunately I don’t have a photo. certainly it could be some insect that’s much like a crane fly but different. if so, I’d like to understand what it was and how to tell it today. this was in Ashland, Oregon, at night. it seemed attracted to the light in my van. it flew like a crane fly, not exactly elegant. it was about an inch and a half in size.
What’s That Bug? will no longer weigh in on the stinging potential of Crane Flies since so many of our readers seem to offer challenges to the long accepted opinion of experts that they do not sting nor bite.
I live in Iowa and have been stung by one of these upon attempting to carry it outside. I had no idea they were capable of stinging but they most certainly are and it is most very painful.
We have always relied upon the opinion of experts like Dr. Chen Young that Crane Flies neither sting nor bite. You might have been stung by a similar looking Ichneumon.
I was stung by one over 30 years ago… Nobody believed me! And still dont to this day!
I just got stung by one of these so yes yes yes they do sting don’t let them tell you anything different I was just trying to find out if the sting was harmful.
SE Colorado – I was definitely bit by a “innocent” believed crane fly. Picked it up to take it outside and it bit me. Week later still have a itchy bump.
Hello I’m in the UK. We have loads of innocent Crane Flies invading us at this time of year. Last week I was awakened from a deep sleep & felt “ something “ biting my neck( no not my husband ). I turned the light on and there on my pillow was a Crane Fly which was quickly dispatched! It left quite a hard itchy lump on my neck for several days. I’m 75. It’s never happened before. I’m guessing “ Evolution “.
hi I am in Holland, These evo’s have a couple of filamentous instars before the they reach 1mm and may even lay eggs in callus of the foot.
I was just stung by a Crane fly. I tried to pick it up with a plastic bag and it stung me. I thought they were harmless, too. I immediately went to the web to see if they were known for biting. I agree with all the other comments that they do indeed sting or bite. I have the same symptoms as the others.I live in North Texas.
My fiancee got stung killing one of these this evening. Shocked us both as we thought it was a mayfly in the lamplight. This was in Nebraska so they are here too.
Hello. I live in Norway. I also grew up beliving they didn’t sting, and i can’t remember beeing stung as a child. But a couple years ago i was stung by one, and i took one that stung my son aswell.
CRANE FLIES DON’T STING! I CATCH THEM ALL THE TIME, AND I CATCH FEMALES. THEY DON’T STING
Hello. I was just stung on my wrist by one of these! I’m glad I came across this thread because I never knew it was possible!!!
Well it seems it’s either a Crane Fly that has evolved or a Short-Tailed Ichneumon Wasp. Doesn’t matter, just got stung by one, on the edge of my index finger, don’t pick these up by their wings. Ouch.
So i guess both insects live in Eastern Kentucky, that would explain a lot. They only come out in the evening and at night. As a kid, I thought they were Male sqeeters, now I know it’s either a fly or a wasp. You learn something new everyday.
So in conclusion, if you Googled this, like i did, you either got stung/bit by an evolved Crane Fly OR a Short-Tailed Ichneumon Wasp, either way it hurts and might leave a sore, but it doesn’t seem to be dangerous to humans.
Well it seems it’s either a Crane Fly that has evolved or a Short-Tailed Ichneumon Wasp. Doesn’t matter, just got stung by one, on the edge of my index finger, don’t pick these up by their wings. Ouch.
So i guess both insects live in Eastern Kentucky, that would explain a lot. They only come out in the evening and at night. As a kid, I thought they were Male sqeeters, now I know it’s either a fly or a wasp. You learn something new everyday.
So in conclusion, if you Googled this, like i did, you either got stung/bit by an evolved Crane Fly OR a Short-Tailed Ichneumon Wasp, either way it hurts and might leave a sore, but it doesn’t seem to be dangerous to humans.
Yes they CAN sting, it hurts like heck, I have been stung by a number of these I live in south central Kansas, the scientists are wrong! They sting very hard, much worse than a wasp, similar to a harvester ant sting.
Hi Bugman, can the female Ichneumon or Crane Fly lay eggs in your skin? Was out on a walk felt a sting on my knee, it looked like it was trying to inject me.
I was stung early yesterday morning by what I believed was a crane fly. It looked red in colour. I live in Gloucestershire UK and we are in the crane fly season. It was a painful sting and today I have a large red patch like a burn on my wrist which is quite sore.
I live in West Sussex and found this thread on the internet because I was stung by a crane fly yesterday evening whilst cupping one in my hand to carry out of the house. I have done it many many times before (I’m in my 60’s) and was somewhat shocked (hence the post) when I felt the sting. It’s been very itchy and red with a tiny blister at the puncture site on the inside of my L ring finger.
I am a zoology student in England. I, too, cupped a crane fly in my hand (last academic year during a practical class) and was astonished as I felt it pierce my skin – I instantly released it. I later turned to the internet to explain this, finding very unsatisfactory responses of ‘no’. It has been over a year now, and my thumb STILL has the purple dotted mark from the ‘jabbing’.
It is frustrating that seemingly no one has researched this and mis-information of ‘not possible’ is apparently believed by inexperienced experts. I respect scientists and experts, but it DOES seem likely that crane flies use their ovipositors to pierce threats.
THEY STING… PERIOD‼️ I have been stung three times by them and so have my children. I thought it was something in our skin because mosquitoes tear me up as well. But then I learned that the more carbon dioxide you put off the more bugs are attracted to you. I am here to tell you though that crane flies do Pierce skin and it is awfully painful. After we have been stung and tilt them we have kept them and looked them up on the internet and they were indeed crane flies not the wasps!
I was just “stung” by one of these creatures; it was similar to an electric shock or a bee sting! There is a white center around where it pierced the skin and the skin around it is turning red.
I have pictures of both the insect and bite on my hand. I live in Massachusetts and this insect had gotten in my garage and stung me when I cupped just hand around it to help it out the door. The OPs experience is similar to mine so figured I’d share…. If this is a crane fly they definitely can bite/sting and it hurts more than I’d expect!
I’m in Portugal. Got stung today. Like a “mild” version of a bee – but it still hurt. Went to the internet – found this thread. Was trying to move it outside of the house. Will never touch those things again. It really hurt.
I just got stung by a crane fly too! My husband told me flat out, no, they cannot sting. I asked him why my foot is hurting and he told me I was a hypochondriac 😂
It’s red and swollen around the area so I came to google to see if it could be something else and found this post.
It looks exactly like a crane fly. It charged at me twice, out of no where. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
I’m a biologist with a masters degree and know my insects well. I’ve handled crane flies for years (taking them out of my house). Just got “stung” by one. Very surprising and quite painful. But the pain dissipated quickly.
I’m glad we have had a insect pro have first hand experience on this matter finally.
I know for decades it was understood that Crane Flys don’t sting, but perhaps in the last 5-8 yrs they have adapted to using there hind end to deter predators (humans) from messing with them. Mother nature Can adapt after all.
I was stung by one when I was a child and it hurt like hell this was in Southeastern Oklahoma no one believe me. I have not touched one since except to smash it I live in Oklahoma City currently and they are everywhere this year
I live in Southern California and I have handled hundreds of crane flies to remove them from the house. I have been stung twice by the females. The first time was in 2008 the second time was 4 days ago. Painful, but no swelling for me either time. However, this recent sting left a discolored purple spot beneath the skin on my index finger.