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crane flys?

Victoria Smith3Victoria Smith3 Posts: 11
in Talkback

Since the recent couple of days of sunshine on an early evening when the sun is low there are groups of flying insects which I think may be crane flies. They are a nuisance and seem to also like to gather near my small new pond. Does anyonow if they cause harm to plants or lawn? How can deter them? They are close to the house and are off putting when trying to relax for a short while after work!!

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Bit early for them. 

    All part of the great natural world Victoriaimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Victoria Smith3Victoria Smith3 Posts: 11

    Maybe they're a type of midge?  Seem to recall a similar occurence last year and my lawn went brown above where they'd been hovering about?? Dont they lay eggs in the lawn?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Hopefully you've a colony of bats somewhere near you - they'll swoop low over your garden and catch them on summer nights image

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=759


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Morning guysimage Is it too early for the crane fly grubs to spoil the lawn? We tried the black plastic check but when we lifted it there was no sign of them. Still brown patchesimage

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Can we see  pics of the lawn and brown patches please Primrosecottage? image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Will have ago camera skills are a little hit and miss image

  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    upuploading pics problem will try again. image
     :/ nimage

     

     Not sure how but this is one of my pics

    image

    image

     

     Hope these helpimageimage

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    I think I'd try aerating and scarifying the lawn - it looks a bit compacted to me - then treat with a spring lawn treatment that will kill off weeds and moss while fertilising the grass. 

    Raise the cutter bar on the mower to leave the grass a bit longer so it's not scalped.  If the lawn's still a bit thin by September then rake it thoroughly and scatter some lawn seed over the whole lawn, and stand well back image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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