Crane fly is a common name referring to any member of the insect family Tipulidae, of the order Diptera. In colloquial speech, crane flies are sometimes known as daddy longlegs, a term also used to describe opiliones or the family Pholcidae, or mosquito hawks. The larvae of crane flies are known commonly as leatherjackets. Crown group crane flies have existed since at least the Barremian stage of the Early Cretaceous and are found worldwide, though individual species usually have limited ranges. They are most diverse in the tropics but are also common in northern latitudes and high elevations. The Tipulidae is one of the largest groups of flies, including over 15,000 species and subspecies in 525 genera and subgenera. Read more at Wikipedia
