How To Kill Crane Flies In Grass

While native species of crane flies live on decaying leaves the european species attacks pastures and lawns.

How to kill crane flies in grass.

In the spring they ll come back out on the lawn. Larvae of european crane flies are also known as leather jackets. However crane fly larva known as leatherjackets can cause damage to your lawn. You can kill the flies immediately with an insecticide or you can take preventative measures by killing their larva.

Hummingbirds eat smaller midges and gnats that hide in the lawn and form cloud swarms when disturbed. Crane flies look like oversized mosquitoes but they do not bite. Crane fly control primarily involves reducing the insect s habitat using beneficial nematodes and increases the vigor of your lawn grass. Products containing imidacloprid and pyrethroids are popular ingredients.

They hatch in the fall and live on grass blades until they go underground for the winter. Birds including starlings and robins eat adult and larval crane flies. Regardless of their less than desirable relatives adult crane flies don t bite or spread diseases although crane flies in lawn grass can be problematic. These gardentech products kill adult crane flies and up to 500 other pests by contact and keep protecting for up to three months sevin insect killer concentrate applied with a pump style sprayer simplifies treating lawn areas where crane flies are expected or where damage occurs.

Adult crane flies resemble over sized mosquitoes but are harmless and do not feed on blood. Crane flies and their larval form leatherjackets can be major pests but each in their own way. Their larvae feed on grass roots causing dry patches. With this kind of infestation you are likely to find uneven sections of grass that have been completely devoured leaving only brown soil.

Crane flies belong to the order diptera and are distant relatives to flies and mosquitoes. There are several products available labeled to control european crane fly larvae in liquid or granular formulas that can be applied to your turf. An insecticide application will kill the crane fly larvae in your turf.