Leatherjacket (Crane Fly Larva)
Tipula spp.
moderate risk
insect
Overview
Larvae of crane flies that live in turf soil and eat grass roots. Cause dead patches in lawns, especially wet areas.
Larvae gray-brown, legless, 25-45mm, tough-skinned (hence leatherjacket). Adults are large crane flies ('daddy longlegs').
Prevention Strategies
- •Improve drainage to reduce ideal habitat
- •Beneficial nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) in September
- •Maintain healthy vigorous turf
Control Methods
- •Beneficial nematodes drench in early fall
- •Imidacloprid soil drench
- •Encourage natural predators (starlings actually useful here)
- •Flood area at night to bring larvae to surface for bird feeding
Interesting Facts
- •The large crane fly adults ('daddy longlegs') you see in fall are entirely harmless
- •The false claim that crane flies are the 'most venomous insect' is complete myth
- •Flooding turf at night brings larvae to surface where birds can find and eat them
- •Populations explode in wet years with high survival of eggs and young larvae