The Phantom Crane Fly gets it's name by it's ability to appear and disappear due to the markings on it's body. The body of an adult phantom crane fly is black, with white bands on it's legs. When it flies into the shade, only the white bands are visable which gives the disappearing illusion. The larva of crane flies live in decaying plants materials or in mud at the edge of a pond or lake. Phanton crane fly larvae eat and grow until they turn into pupae. The pupae live in the moist soil through the winter and emerge as adults in the spring.

Source:www.alienexplorer.com