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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
World
Neil Shaw

Giant flying daddy long legs are invading homes across the UK

The end of September is the time of year when homes across the UK are finding themselves host to a number of new and unwanted guests.

In particular you'll notice a lot of spindly-legged, long-bodied, flying daddy long legs.

The insects, a species of crane fly, have been spotted in huge numbers across the country in recent days - and experts say they will be around for a while.

The flies live for 10 to 15 days, looking for a mate, so you can expect to see more over the days ahead.

And while people have reported seeing them in huge numbers this years, experts say there are actually fewer than usual.

We tend to see them because they are so large, and move awkwardly, and are attracted to our lights.

The simplest way to keep them out is to keep windows and doors closed - as they lay their eggs outside, not in our homes.

Peter Boardman, from the Cranefly Reporting Scheme, said: "It's 'cranefly-in-the-house' season again! The offender is called   Tipula paludosa,   the common daddy long legs, and is one of 338 types of craneflies that occur in the UK.

Of course the vast majority of the 337 other species which range from 5mm to 60mm in size live their lives unseen by most people and it is therefore unsurprising that everyone thinks we only have this type of cranefly.

"The reason this species is so common is that they breed in soil amongst grasses, which range from lawns to all but the most sodden grassland, so a very common habitat.

"The larvae feed upon the roots of grasses but the adult Tipula paludosa   do not feed at all as their mouth parts are very simple and incapable of eating, they can merely dab at fluids. "

For the latest news in and around Bristol, check back on Bristol Live's homepage .

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