Symbolic Insect Meaning of the Crane Fly

Symbolic insect meaning of the crane fly (also called mosquito hawks or daddy long legs) deal with:

• Purpose
• Resourcefulness
• Balance
• Introspection

My cousin asked about this symbolic insect meaning, and here are a few other observations I shared with him:

crane flies are creatures of both air and water. Air in esoteric symbolism deals with thought, and water symbolism speaks to us about emotion. When these or other insects of their ilk come into our awareness it suggests a fitful, but sometimes whimsical juxtaposition between our analytical mind and our dreamy-type emotions.

It's interesting how their legs are so fragile, and break off so easily - this is a survival technique. They can often escape from becoming lunch for birds by leaving behind one of their legs in a bird beak.

Legs speak to me of foundations (four pillars of stability) and core beliefs. If we do as the insect intuitively suggests, and consider our softer emotions in relation to our hard-core thoughts, we may detect a "loose leg" in our prime, stabilizing belief systems. We may want to "sacrifice" one of these "legs" if that belief no longer serves us.

Mosquito hawks and crane flies are, on the whole, innocuous - they take life casually, flitting from food source to food source. None of these sources being human or animal. Rather, they conusume nectars. This reminds me of resourcefulness, and going light on consuming resources of the earth - not invading or harming other creatures in order to gain life for self - being gentle with our consumption, and taking only what is required.

As with most insects, (it would seem to the scientific eye) these little guys mostly have one purpose. To procreate. This can be a symbolic message to use our time wisely, and be mindful as well as passionate about what we create for ourselves and others in the life-span we have. Maybe this insect meaning would have a "this life is what you've got right now, give this life time the best shot you've got" kind of motto.

I hope you have enjoyed these observations on the symbolic insect meaning of the crane fly.

Back to Insect totems page.

Photo credit: Photo of crane fly by Gilles Gonthier

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