Crane fly

The crane fly (Tipula) belongs to the family Tipulidae within the order Diptera. While the adult crane flies look like oversized mosquitoes and are harmless to vegetation, their larvae, commonly known as leatherjackets, are significant pests that inhabit the soil and feed on plant structures.

These pests are polyphagous, meaning they attack a wide range of crops including cereals, vegetables, ornamental plants, and turfgrass. They thrive in damp, heavy soils where organic matter is abundant, making pastures and poorly drained garden beds particularly susceptible to infestation.

The biological cycle is typically univoltine, meaning one generation per year. Female flies lay eggs in moist soil during late summer and autumn. The resulting larvae overwinter in the soil and begin intense feeding on plant roots and crowns in early spring as the soil temperatures rise, often causing significant stand reduction.

The damage caused by larvae is severe. They feed on roots and underground stems, leading to stunted growth, yellowing, and eventually the death of the plant. In lawns, their presence is often marked by patches of dead, brownish grass that can be easily pulled away from the soil, as the roots have been entirely consumed.

Managing crane fly populations requires a strategic integrated approach:

• Improve soil drainage to make the environment less favorable for egg-laying and larval survival.
• Implement regular cultivation or harrowing to expose larvae to birds and drying conditions.
• Use biological controls such as parasitic nematodes (Steinernema feltiae) for targeted reduction.
• Apply soil-incorporated insecticides only when population thresholds exceed economic damage levels.