Lawn KILLER BUG! - How to CONTROL the HARMFUL European Crane Fly Larvae

March 27, 2017

 HOW TO IDENTIFY European crane flies, or, Tipula paludosa, are insects that are not native to the United States but became invasive in the late 1900’s. They are often mistaken for large mosquitos but they cannot bite or sting. These insects are a threat to turf because the larvae, known as leatherjackets, feed on grass shoots during the evening and the roots during the heat of the day. The European crane fly’s larval stage is the longest life cycle of this pest, lasting approximately 10 months, which means an infestation can greatly affect lawn turf. The larvae (Leatherjackets) have thick, grayish colored skin and a head capsule. They hatch in late summer where they continue to feed on grass roots throughout the winter and into the following spring until they reach full maturity (Leatherjackets can grow to exceed 1 inch in size). Come May-June, the leatherjackets create cocoons and become pupae and will remain in this stage until the months July-August where the pupae emerge as an adult European crane fly. Within 24 hours after growing into adulthood, these pests swarm, breed, and die after laying anywhere between 200-500 eggs in grass. 



  • NOTE:  A similar insect, the Native crane fly does not cause damage to turf grass like the European crane fly does. It is not easy to determine the difference between the crane fly species so be sure to check with your county cooperative extension agent in order to establish if European crane flies have been detected in the area.
A person is holding a worm in their hand next to a picture of a cranefly

 PREFERRED ENVIRONMENT European crane flies are found in larger numbers in turf that has been poorly established and maintained, especially lawns with excessive thatch buildup since larvae prefer to stay in the turf’s “crown” layer of thatch. European crane flies prefer moist soil and require mild, winter temperatures and cool summers with an average rainfall of at least 24 inches.


 INFESTATION SEASON

Although European crane flies have a life cycle of about a year, the main infestation occurs once larva hatches, starting in mid-summer through the winter and then into the following spring.


 DAMAGE CAUSED

Damage is really caused by the leatherjackets (European crane fly’s larvae), as they feed on grass shoots and roots. This eventually will turn your lawn yellow or brown and can cause bare spots. The highest observed damage time is in late spring, right before leatherjackets become pupae. If left untreated, turf may eventually die.


 ARE EUROPEAN CRANE FLIES THE PROBLEM? 

To determine if the number of European crane flies have become invasive, in late March to early April, use a cup cutter or something similar (remove both ends of a one-gallon tin can, like a coffee container) or a sharp spade to dig up roughly 6x6 inch squares that are roughly 1 to 2 inches deep. Repeat this step in 4 to 5 other locations that are scattered throughout the lawn. Place each of these samples into a bucket of mild, soapy water. This will cause leatherjackets to float to the top. Count the number of larvae floating on the surface and multiply it by 4 to give the number of larvae per square foot. If you have a number greater than 25 larvae per square feet, European crane flies are beginning to infest a lawn and some damage can be seen; a control method is recommended. At 45 or more crane fly larvae per square foot, damage to turf can be noticed because the lawn has been fully infested and essential measures need to be taken in order to control the larvae population and restore a lawn.


 HOW TO MANAGE

Conventional insecticides can suppress the European crane fly larvae throughout its lifecycle; check the product’s label to ensure this pest is controlled. The best time to treat your lawn with a control product for this pest is during the spring, usually mid-April when the European crane fly larvae are most active. Sample the area to determine the scope of the infestation. Review all label instructions of the insecticide purchased before applying.


  List of   professional insecticides   known to control the European crane fly larvae: 

  • Allectus®  (Imidacloprid and Bifenthrin)
  • Imi-Lambda®  (Imidacloprid and Lambda-cyhalothrin)
  • ACELEPRYN®  (Chlorantraniliprole)
  • Merit®  (Imidacloprid)

If you don’t currently have a European crane fly larvae problem, try preventative measures with best management practices including, encouraging a healthy lawn by monitoring and maintaining a neutral soil pH, adopting a continuous lawn care program of fertilization and soil amendments , proper irrigation , aeration and thatch management , as well as mowing turf to healthy lengths.


For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
 
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service to find a distributor near you.

References:
https://www.fws.gov/alaska/fisheries/contaminants/pdf/cranefly300.PDF
https://blog.nutrilawn.com/getting-rid-of-the-worst-lawn-pests
http://www.northeastipm.org/bmps-for-school-ipm/pests/european-crane-fly/
http://www.lawnfertilizingservice.com/european-crane-fly/
http://www.nyis.info/index.php?action=invasive_detail&id=50

The TURFReport Highlights:

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White Plains, NY – January 30, 2026 – Interoceanic Corporation (“IOC”) announced today that its affiliate Spring Valley USA (Spring Valley) , has acquired the blending and packaging assets and business of Turf Care Supply, LLC, a leading manufacturer and blender of turf and ornamental fertilizers as well as ice melt. The combination of Spring Valley and Turf Care Supply’s blending business, forms one of the largest independent lawn and garden fertilizer platforms in North America. The integrated business will have approximately 250 employees and will operate eight manufacturing and blending facilities across seven states, enabling coast-to-coast coverage of customers. By uniting two highly complementary companies, this acquisition creates a world-class turf & ornamental supply company positioned to deliver enhanced value to both professional and retail customers. “This acquisition is a transformative step for our organization,” said Elio Mazzella , President of IOC and Spring Valley. “By bringing Turf Care Supply into the IOC family, we are significantly expanding our reach and capabilities in serving the lawn and garden industry. The combined company will have an unrivaled production footprint and product portfolio, which means we can offer our customers faster service, greater efficiency, and innovative solutions on a national scale. Our goal is to build a world-class platform that blends the strengths of both businesses – the supply chain efficiencies of the combined business and the family-business values – will drive growth for our customers and vendor partners.” With the closing of the transaction, Turf Care Supply, LLC will be renamed Allied Nutrients and continue to manufacture leading enhanced efficiency fertilizers (“EEF”) out of its Martins Ferry, Ohio facility. Mark Mangan, President of Allied Nutrients, commented, “we want to thank our long-time employees that will be joining the IOC family and wish them well. We have known the IOC team for many years and believe this will be a great home. At the same time, we are excited for our remaining employees as we focus our resources and efforts on providing the best EEF solutions to the turf and ornamental market.” With this acquisition, the combined company now operates manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, giving it the ability to blend and package fertilizer products and ice melt closer to customers in every major region. Turf Care Supply’s sites in Hatfield (MA), Sebring (FL), Cleveland (TN), and Catoosa (OK) will join Spring Valley’s existing plants in Jackson (WI), Fostoria (OH), Greenville (TX), and Longwood (FL). This expanded footprint significantly reduces transit times and enhances supply reliability for our customers. Maintaining strong customer relationships during and after the integration is a top priority. “All of our customers will continue to receive the outstanding service and product quality they expect, now with the added benefit of a truly national production network,” Mazzella added. Each major customer will be supported by an expanded team dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition and ongoing success. Strategically, the merger of Spring Valley and Turf Care Supply unlocks significant commercial synergies that will benefit both our customers and vendor partners. Together, the company will offer the most comprehensive product portfolio in the industry. “This combination is about building a platform that is perfectly suited to support our customers growth,” said Mazzella. “By combining our R&D and product development efforts, we intend to bring new, high-value solutions to market that neither company could have achieved alone.” The integration of the two businesses is already underway, with a focus on maintaining operational continuity and exceptional customer service throughout the spring season. The company also emphasized that all Turf Care Supply employees are being welcomed into the organization, and that the combined workforce will play a crucial role in driving the business forward. “This is an exciting moment for all of us. By uniting two great teams, we’re creating a stronger company with a shared commitment to our customers’ and vendors success, ” Mazzella noted. 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White Plains, NY – January 30, 2026 – Interoceanic Corporation (“IOC”) announced today that its affiliate Spring Valley USA (Spring Valley) , has acquired the blending and packaging assets and business of Turf Care Supply, LLC, a leading manufacturer and blender of turf and ornamental fertilizers as well as ice melt. The combination of Spring Valley and Turf Care Supply’s blending business, forms one of the largest independent lawn and garden fertilizer platforms in North America. The integrated business will have approximately 250 employees and will operate eight manufacturing and blending facilities across seven states, enabling coast-to-coast coverage of customers. By uniting two highly complementary companies, this acquisition creates a world-class turf & ornamental supply company positioned to deliver enhanced value to both professional and retail customers. “This acquisition is a transformative step for our organization,” said Elio Mazzella , President of IOC and Spring Valley. “By bringing Turf Care Supply into the IOC family, we are significantly expanding our reach and capabilities in serving the lawn and garden industry. The combined company will have an unrivaled production footprint and product portfolio, which means we can offer our customers faster service, greater efficiency, and innovative solutions on a national scale. 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