LEATHERJACKET IDENTIFICATION
Leatherjackets are the lawn-damaging larvae of an insect known as the crane fly. These plump larvae get their name from their thick, leathery skin. Ranging in color from gray and tan to olive green, leatherjackets grow about 1.5 inches long. Like much smaller billbug larvae, leatherjackets are legless. They often retract their heads slightly, giving them the look of dark, legless, headless grubs.Adult crane flies resemble overgrown brown mosquitoes with extremely long legs. They have many common regional names, including mosquito eaters, mosquito hawks and daddy long-legs. Common crane flies grow nearly 1 inch long, but their legs can reach four times that length. Unlike mosquitoes, short-lived adult crane flies do not feed or bite.
SIGNS OF LEATHERJACKETS
Leatherjackets usually appear in moist, irrigated lawn areas. Their damage intensifies in years with heavy rains. These pests feed on all parts of lawn grasses — above and below ground. Damage starts in fall when leatherjackets hatch, then resumes in spring. By spring, lawn damage shows up as irregular brown patches and thinning, dying grass.To confirm a leatherjacket infestation, remove a 1-foot-square piece of sod from your lawn. With leatherjackets active, the damaged turf layer separates easily from the soil. In severe infestations, expect to find 25 or more leathery larvae per square foot.
HOW TO CONTROL LEATHERJACKETS
Effective leatherjacket control targets these pests when they're actively feeding. Late summer and fall treatments hit adults and newly hatched leatherjackets. Spring treatment targets overwintering leatherjackets as they start to feed on grass again. With Amdro brand products, you can kill leatherjackets, stop their damage and protect your lawn.
- Amdro Quick Kill Lawn Insect Killer Granules reaches leatherjackets above and below the surface. Apply the ready-to-use granules with a regular lawn spreader, then water lightly to release the active ingredient. The granules kill by contact within 24 hours and keep protecting against leatherjackets for up to three months.
- Amdro Quick Kill Insect Killer for Home Perimeter Granules contains sand and two active ingredients in a deep-reaching treatment that penetrates mulch and straw. The convenient shaker container simplifies application. Ideal for home perimeters and small lawn areas, this product kills leatherjackets by contact and keeps on killing pests for three months.
- Amdro Quick Kill Insect Killer for Lawn & Landscape, available in liquid ready-to-spray and concentrate formulas, works in minutes to kill adult crane flies (not the larvae) by contact. Then it keeps working for up to three months. Use it on lawns, trees, shrubs and flower gardens to prevent new generations of crane flies.
LEATHERJACKET CONTROL TIPS
Like grubs, leatherjacket infestations attract skunks, raccoons and birds that dig up lawns to feast on these plump pests. Prompt treatment helps prevent added damage from leatherjacket-seeking wildlife.
Always read product labels and follow the instructions carefully.
Amdro and Amdro Quick Kill are registered trademarks of Central Garden & Pet Company.
Pest Gallery
adult crane fly
leatherjacket damage base of plant
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