What Are European Crane Flies (Leatherjackets)?

• What they look like: Adults resemble large Mosquitoes and appear in late summer and fall. They do not bite or sting. Larvae, called Leatherjackets, are small, brown and worm-like.
• Damage: Leatherjacket larvae feed on grass roots in spring and summer, creating brown patches. Heaviest feeding occurs as Leather jackets mature in summer.
• Diagnose: Cut a 6-12-inch-square of sod. Dig down 4 inches. Peel the sod back and look for Leatherjackets. In a healthy lawn, 25 Leatherjackets per square foot of lawn will cause damage. Also watch for birds patrolling your lawn, digging for the larvae.
• Affected areas: They are destructive lawn pests in the Pacific Northwest and New York. Scattered invasions are reported in Ohio, Wisconsin and throughout New England.