It is that time of the year when the crane flies come out to play! Also known as daddy longlegs, crane flies are harmless to humans, but they can be a bit of a nuisance. Not only does it look like a giant mosquito, but its larvae can cause some serious damage.
Crane fly larvae, also known as leatherjackets, look like small worms, and can grow up to an inch long. Adult crane flies hatch and breed in late summer – early autumn and they bread almost straight away, laying eggs almost immediately. Leatherjackets love the damp and thrive on organic material, making your garden the perfect breeding ground. Within a few weeks, the eggs hatch into larva.
Why are leatherjackets so bad for the garden?
By the time spring arrives, your hungry leatherjackets will have eaten through organic material, including grass and, importantly, grass roots, which can lead to serious damage in your lawn, including ugly “bald” patches.
How can you spot a leatherjacket infestation?
The appearance of patches of drying or dead grass is a first indication that you might have a problem with leatherjackets. This will usually be noticeable sometime over the winter (between November and January). This is because the leatherjackets start by feeding on grass roots, which stops the grass from getting the water and nutrients it needs to stay green and lush.
Another sign of leatherjacket activity is an abundance of wildlife in your garden. Birds such as crows and magpies will do their best to find juicy leatherjackets, and foxes will even try to dig them up in your garden to find them.
How bad will the problem get?
A leatherjacket infestation will usually start with a small bald patch, but as the larvae exhaust the food resources in one patch of lawn, they will spread out to find more, so you may notice the patch getting bigger. In extreme cases, leatherjackets can destroy entire lawns.
How can you prevent or control crane fly larvae?
If you suspect that you may have a leatherjacket problem, or if you (and your lawn) have suffered in the past, there are a range of chemical and biological control methods that you can use. These include the use of nematodes – harmless microscopic worms – which feast on the larvae (the predator becomes prey!). Encouraging natural predators, such as birds, will also help you to keep your leatherjacket population in check. In extreme cases, it is possible to use chemical treatments. These should, however, be a last resort and it is always best to consult a pest control specialist or professional gardener to make sure that the measures you use are suitable for the type and scale of your problem.
If you have a leatherjacket infestation, or any other unwanted guests, contact your local pest control specialist for professional advice. For more tips, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or X.