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.