Nutrition

Unfortunately, there is not much information about the nutrition of this specific insect because it feeds on little to nothing at all.  Sometimes, the adult Phantom Crane Fly feeds on nectar.  When the adults do feed, they use their lebellum to suck up their food.  The larvae of the fly scavenge for organic matter, and they do this submerged in water by breathing through a snorkel-like tip at the end of their abdomen (Wild Florida Photo 2010). 

 

We were not able to find a video clip of how Phantom Crane Flies feed.  However, we were able to find a video clip of how one of its closest relatives feeds.  The short video clip above shows one of the Phantom Crane Fly's relatives feeding on a honeydew leaf.  Permission was given by Carl Barrentine on April 4, 2012.  [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jGr8aEGHh0&feature=player_embedded]

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