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Crane fly's

stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
edited September 2021 in Problem solving
Does anybody have any ideas of how to get rid of crane fly's?  Last 2 weekends cutting the lawn was like something out of a horror movie and hundreds flying around my face.

I've put some nematodes down, but was hoping there was something I could do to deter them in the first place. They aren't in the front lawn or in my neighbours.
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They can be a nuisance, because they lay eggs in the lawn, and the emerging larvae eat the grass roots. If you have any crows [of any kind - rooks, magpies etc ] they usually snaffle those up, and so so starlings, but I don't think there are any real deterrents for the crane flies themselves - other than possibly your nematodes. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
    Ok thanks. Just why us  :( I'm sure my neighbour would love a share.

    Hopefully the nematodes will kill off what they've laid and I might put some more down in 2 weeks if they have gone.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Maybe your plot just suits them better @stuarta99 ;)
    We don't get too troubled by them [larvae - leatherjackets] here, because they don't like our conditions [ been different this year]  but there's a house not far from me with an area of grass to the outside of the boundary. It's a new-ish estate and all the houses have this, and it's covered in 'tufts' from the crows pulling up the ground to get at them. All the other grassed areas nearby are fine.
    Sometimes, there's no rhyme or reason    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
    Little b'stards.  I hate them as well and felt very brave cutting the lawn as they all bounced off my face and legs. Did quit and walk away at one point lol 
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    My grown up son hates spiders and he thinks of crane flies as the flying version!
    They terrify him!!!!!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • stuarta99stuarta99 Posts: 235
    Well it looks like the nematodes are working with several leatherjackets on the surface looking dead.  They appear pretty rigid and assuming if they are on the surface then they ain't eating the roots and probably are dead.
  • raytreherne-HtfGyMxraytreherne-HtfGyMx Posts: 2
    Try Jon at 
    Thegreengardener.com
    He supplies nematodes particularly to fight this issue. It might take several applications over a few months, but it really worked for me when I moved to a new house. Nematodes mixed with water and applies via a watering can. Treat autumn and spring
  • raytreherne-HtfGyMxraytreherne-HtfGyMx Posts: 2
    The nematodes get ingested by the leather jacket, the nematodes eat the leather jackets from within, sounds gruesome but you don't see it.. crane's lay their eggs in the ground area from where they emerged,you will see an absence of fly and lavea 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Think you're a bit late to the party @raytreherne-HtfGyMx - stuart's already applied them  ;)
    Hopefully - that's working for you @stuarta99  :)

    @philippasmith2 - it's when you disturb a load of them and get them in your mouth... :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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