Crane flies are often mistaken for giant mosquitoes. Although crane flies and mosquitoes both belong to the insect order Diptera (true flies), they actually belong to entirely different families. They are often called "mosquito hawks," although they do not prey on mosquitoes. The soft, fragile mouthparts of crane flies make them incapable of biting. In addition, their long, clumsy legs are very fragile and break off easily. Crane flies are attracted to lights and often sit on windowsills, walls and doorways. They commonly enter houses during the evening as you walk through your doorway.

Crane flies develop from large, worm-like larvae called "leather jackets" because of the brown color of their skin. The larvae of terrestrial species live in moist soil or leaf mold where they feed on decaying wood and vegetation, fungi, mosses, and the roots of herbaceous plants. In some species the larvae are completely aquatic and live in ponds and streams. When fully grown the larvae metamorphose into pupae. They are very abundant in weedy fields in spring, especially during years with high rainful and bountiful annual grasses and herbs. Often swarms of adults appear after mowing. Like many other insects, the adults are relatively short-lived and their main purpose is to mate and perpetuate the species.

The mantispid is much smaller than the preying mantis and has shorter antennae. Mantispids have two pairs of membranous wings with a network of veins (nerves) typical of the order Neuroptera. In fact, the name "Neuroptera" is derived from Greek and means "nerve wing." The wings are held tentlike over the body, unlike the wings of mantids. Mantids have a pair of leathery forewings that lie flat over the abdomen. A pair of membranous hind wings are folded beneath the forewings. Mantispids undergo complete metamorphosis with an egg, larva, pupa and adult. Mantids have incomplete metamorphosis with a egg, nymph (that resembles a miniature adult) and adult.

A female mantispid will lay numerous stalked eggs on leaves and wooden structures. The newly hatched larvae, less than a millimeter in length, begin their genetically-programmed search for spiders. They enter the egg sac of a spider, either through direct penetration, or they climb onto the female spider and enter the egg sac as she builds it. While the matispid is waiting for the female spider to build an egg sac, it will enter the spider's book lungs and feed on the spider's blood. The mantispid enters the egg sac before the female spider can finish spinning the protective silken case. Once inside the egg sac, the mantispid will dine on spider eggs and grow. The mature larva will then spin a cocoon and metamorphose into a pupa, all of this within the spider's egg sac. It will emerge as an adult a few weeks later.