Bug FAQSpectacled Crane Fly
Epiphragma solatrix · Order: Diptera · Family: Limoniidae
Source: Wikipedia
The larvae live inside wood and feed on it. This crane fly is found from the United States down through the Neotropical region, including Argentina.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Because the larvae chew wood, they can damage wooden parts of homes.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The immature stages live inside wood.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The larvae feed on wood.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Tennessee.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Where is this crane fly found?
From the United States down through the Neotropical region, including Argentina.
Source: Wikipedia
Can they damage my house?
Yes, the wood-eating larvae can chew and damage wooden structures.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Limoniidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphragma_solatrix
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.