Crane Fly

The adult Crane Fly looks like a giant mosquito. This lawn pest has a brownish-tan, slender body, very long legs and one pair of long, smoky-brown wings. Crane Fly larvae are small and wormlike, ranging in color from olive-gray to greenish-brown. The tail end of their abdomen bears six fleshy, finger-like lobes. These lawn insects also have black-pointed heads that withdraw into the front parts of the body when disturbed. Most of the lawn damage caused by Crane Fly larvae and adults occurs in the spring, when larvae are feeding on grass roots, rhizomes, crowns and leaf blades. The result of these feeding habits are areas of sparse grass, missing foliage and bare grounds in both lawns and landscaping. Closer inspection of these areas may reveal large numbers of larvae in the thatch and upper soil, whereas large numbers of adults can be seen congregating on walls of buildings.