Unlike their common name would suggest, Crane flies do not eat mosquitoes, but actually feed off nectar. As a point of fact, many adult Crane Flies do not even have mouth parts and live only long enough to reproduce before dying. And while females have an compositor that is stinger-like in appearance, crane flies are virtually harmless.
However, when populations reach numbers like those we have seen recently it is likely that we will see substantial numbers of leather jackets infesting lawns next spring.
At this point, there is nothing that can be done. The female flues will lay their eggs and die within a few days of the first frost. But next spring, topical applications can be made to your turf that will prevent the leather jackets from doing extensive damage. If you have suspicion that you may have an infestation, the following steps should be taken to determine whether or not you should give us a call: