Crane Fly

The cycle of life The first issue is understanding the life cycle of this pest. The adult crane fly emerges from the soil from late August to mid-September. They immediately mate and lay eggs. This is not the time to take any action. The eggs in the soil quickly hatch and gray-brown, worm-like larvae, with a tough skin, called a leatherjacket starts to develop and feed on roots. The feeding slows dramatically in the winter and recommences in early spring. Feeding ends in mid-May. The larvae change to a quiet pupa in July and August to appear as adults in August and September. Enter the other European It is important to understand that there are many natural forces that reduce the population of crane fly larvae in the soil, without any intervention. There can be significant death of leatherjackets in the winter due to cold and disease. There is also significant predation by birds feeding on the larvae. The European Starling, that aggressive bird that drives away native songbirds from our yards, has a redeeming value in being a very effective leatherjacket predator. They also can serve as an early warning sign that there is (or was) crane fly larvae in your lawn. So, let them feed to their heart's content. continued.....
previous	next