Lawn Pests - Leatherjacket

Scientific Name: Tipula paludosa

Recently in Britain we have enjoyed long warm summers and warmer than average winters.

These mild winters have resulted in an explosion in the population of crane fly, or daddy longlegs, as they are more commonly known.

They will very often be seen flying around the gardens in late September time.

These flies lay their eggs in grassed areas – usually lawns.

Then over the winter and spring period, the eggs hatch and the resultant larvae, called leatherjackets, feed off the roots and young shoots of the lawn. This can have a devastating effect on a lawn.

Leatherjackets are legless, brown/grey in colour and can grow up to 4cm long.

Normally, a prolonged hard frost will control the number of these lawn pests, but recent mild winters have caused their number to increase dramatically.

You can find out more about leatherjackets using our comprehensive guide (PDF format).