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The larvae of Daddy Long Legs Crane flies are known as Leather Jackets. They are 15-25mm brown grubs found in soil and rotting vegetation. They feed on the roots of some plants including lawn grass and can cause damage similar to that of grass grub.
The larvae, known as Leather Jackets are 15-25mm brown grubs found in soil and rotting vegetation. They will feed on the roots of some plants including lawn grass and can cause damage similar to grass grub. The larvae may live in soil for 1 season - 5 years depending on species then pupate usually in spring and emerge as adults.
To get rid of leather jackets follow these steps:
Crane Flies are commonly known as Daddy Long Legs Flies. They are not to be confused with Daddy Long Legs Spiders. The adult flies have a slender grey-brown body about 15-20mm long and a single pair of wings held nearly at right angles to the body. They have the remains of a second set of wings (vestigial wings) called halteres which are small bulbs on stalks held out behind the wings, these are involved in stability and control during flight. The wingspan is approximately twice that of body length. Their legs, as their name suggests, are long and thin. The adults feed on nectar and are only a nuisance pest when in large numbers. Crane flies can be confused with large mosquitoes but can be differentiated by the single pair of wings and halteres.
Other similar insect larvae that damage lawns include grass grub, porina, armyworm and greasy cutworm.