European Crane Flies

European Crane Flies

  

Yet another exotic insect has come along to plague us.  Those large “mosquito-like” insects that cluster on your porch in late summer especially in the evenings when the light is on are crane flies.  Don’t panic, they don’t bite. 

 

There are thousands of native species of crane flies that feed on decaying vegetable matter and live near water.  Only a few species have adapted to drier environments and feed on grass roots and foliage.  Two of these, Tipula paludosa (European crane fly) and its relative T. oleracea (common crane fly) are emigrants from Europe that have made their way here through port cities in the northeast and northwest.  Populations are firmly established on both coasts and in Ontario, and now in Michigan.

 There are some significant differences in these very similar looking pests.  Oleracea has longer wings and is a better flier while paludosa has short wings and doesn’t so much fly as hop from spot to spot.  Each female lays about 200 eggs.  Oleracea can complete two generations per year as opposed to one for the paludosa.  One might imagine that the oleracea would be the most serious pest, but as they disperse farther, they don’t build up the populations as quickly as do the poorer flyers. 

European Crane Fly larvae feed on the roots and on damp warm nights they will move to the surface to eat the blades of the grass plant.  Damage to turf looks a lot like white grub damage but a bit of digging will reveal a grayish larvae that has no legs as it is a maggot instead of a grub. Healthy lawns will tolerate lesser numbers without significant dieback.  Fall treatments are considered ideal as most of the feeding is done at that time by the smaller and more controllable European Crane Fly larvae.

  

The 3^rd instar European Crane Fly larvae burrow deeper to escape the winter chill, but may do some feeding during mild winters before rising back up in spring to resume feeding before pupating. In June, the European Crane Fly pupae wriggles to the surface and the adult European crane fly emerges leaving the tough pupal casing behind either sticking up out of the ground in short mowed grass or on the tops of blades in taller grasses.

If you see European Crane Flies or have any questions about how to control them please visit www.owenlawncare.com or call us at (800)-724-6680 to have one of our lawn specialists come out and answer any of your questions or concerns. Thank you!