The Crane Fly

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Crane flies often get a bad rap…they look scary, like oversized mosquitoes that want to suck your blood but the Crane fly is not a mosquito, it is in the family Tipulidae; a mild mannered creature which lives about 15 days and does not eat.
The adult Crane fly isn’t considered a pest; it’s the larvae that damages turf.

The adult Crane fly isn’t considered a pest; it’s the larvae that damages turf.

Crane flies are sometimes referred to as “Mosquito Hawks” believed to prey on mosquitoes but the adult Crane fly is anatomically incapable of killing and eating other insects. It basically becomes an adult just to breed. Because of their long legs, some people call them “Daddy Long-legs.” Adult Crane flies are attracted to lights, especially porch lights and may find their way indoors via an open door. The first thing you want to do when you see one of these flies is to smash it. They look that ominous but opening up the door and letting them out is the best way to deal with them. Otherwise, you may be denying birds or other wildlife of a meal. It’s the Crane fly’s larvae that can feed. The larvae are often considered pests for turfgrass and plants.

Crane Fly Larvae

Both larvae and adult Crane flies are valuable prey for many animals and insects. A Crane fly’s larva helps the soil’s ecosystem by processing organic material and increasing microbial activity.
Crane Fly Larvae AKA Leatherjackets

Crane Fly Larvae AKA Leatherjackets

However, larvae can become pests; in turfgrass, they cause brown patches with their constant feeding on roots and leaf blades. The larvae also feed on organic matter and on the roots of plants. Crane fly larvae are not such a problem in most inland areas; it’s the cooler and moist climates in which they thrive. Some species of Crane fly larvae are actually beneficial – by consuming aquatic insects and invertebrates including mosquito larvae. The nickname “Leatherjackets” is due to their tough skin.

Crane Fly Prevention

Crane flies need moisture in which to breed. The reduction of moisture around your home and property is the best way to deal with Crane flies.
Adult Crane flies don’t eat. Unlike mosquitoes, Crane flies don’t “want your blood!”

Adult Crane flies don’t eat. Unlike mosquitoes, Crane flies don’t “want your blood!”

Crane fly larvae hide under the soil and emerge in the spring. If you noticed birds pecking at your grass, you can check to see if there’s an infestation by digging up a square of grass then sifting through it to see if there are any larvae. Over-watering, leaky sprinklers, or heavy rains contribute to the population of Crane flies. Once an adult, there isn’t much you can do in the way of treatment other than fly traps on your porch, near the light. If the grass is infested, Hearts Pest Management can treat, similar to treating for grubs. Otherwise, keeping your property free from excess moisture is the best method for preventing Crane flies. Please call for a free inspection! You’re also welcome to complete the form below and a caring Hearts Pest Management representative will contact you shortly.

800-986-1006

Call Now 1-800-986-1006 or complete the form below

*
Where Captcha Goes if Used code in footer
City Services for Pest Control in Los Angeles • 800-986-1006
Agoura Hills Alhambra Arcadia Beverly Hills Burbank Calabasas Cerritos City of Industry City Of Los Angeles Claremont Culver City Cypress Diamond Bar El Monte El Segundo Encino Redondo Glendale Granada Hills
Hacienda Heights Hidden Hills Hollywood La Verne Long Beach Malibu Manhattan Beach Marina Del Rey North Hollywood Northridge Pacific Palisades Palos Verdes Estates Pasadena Pomona Rancho Palos Verdes Redondo Beach
Santa Clarita Santa Fe Springs Santa Monica Sherman Oaks Sylmar Tarzana Toluca Lake Torrance Venice Walnut West Covina West Hollywood West Los Angeles Westlake Village Whittier Woodland Hills Reseda Rolling Hills Estates
City Services for Pest Control in Orange County • 800-986-1006
Aliso Viejo Anaheim Brea Buena Park Capistrano Beach City Of Orange Corona Del Mar Costa Mesa Dana Point Fountain Valley Fullerton
Garden Grove Huntington Beach Irvine La Habra Laguna Beach Laguna Hills Laguna Niguel Lake Forest Los Alamitos Mission Viejo Newport Beach
Orange Rancho Santa Margarita Rossmoor San Clemente San Juan Capistrano Santa Ana Tustin Villa Park Westminster Yorba Linda
City Services for Pest Control in San Diego Inland 858-486-1006
4S Ranch Poway
Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos
Scripps Ranch
City Services for Pest Control in Back Country 760-789-4004
Julian
Ramona
Santa Ysabel
City Services for Pest Control in North Inland 760-745-1331
Bonsall Escondido
Fallbrook Hidden Meadows
Pauma Valley Valley Center
City Services for Pest Control in City of San Diego 619-440-6080
Coronado Mira Mesa
Pacific Beach Point Loma
CThe City Of San Diego
City Services for Pest Control in North Coastal 760-753-8008
Cardiff By The Sea Encinitas San Marcos Carlsbad Carmel Valley Del Mar
Encinitas San Marcos La Jolla Solana Beach Oceanside Vista Rancho Santa Fe
San Marcos Solana Beach Vista
City Services for Pest Control in South San Diego – East San Diego 619-440-6080
Alpine Bonita Chula Vista
East Lakes Chula Vista El Cajon Imperial Beach
La Mesa Lakeside Santee
City Services for Pest Control in Ventura • 800-986-1006
Moore Park
Simi Valley
Thousand Oaks
City Services for Pest Control in Riverside • 951-693-5005
Canyon Lake Chino Hills Corona Murrieta Eastvale, CA Lake Elsinore
Menifee Moreno Valley Murrieta Norco Perris, CA
Sun City Temecula The City of Riverside Winchester
City Services for Pest Control in San Bernardino • 909-793-0252
Chino Fontana Highland Loma Linda
Montclair Ontario Rancho Cucamonga Redlands
Upland Yucaipa
Save Save

HP Banner

Awards

Review

Review our amazing pest
service options

You can add other problem pests to your “general pest
control” service.

Why Choose Hearts Pest Management:
Health Conscious First do no harm! Custom Built Plans Flexible Scheduling Technicians Communicative & Trustworthy Budget Sensitivity
We customize the service to your needs & pest situation.

Testimonials

What Our Customers Say
“Able, honest and extremely knowledgeable and polite. They come bi-monthly and use an organic solution to spray outside. It’s a pleasure and relief to do business with them.”
~ Carri B.
View more
“The technician Austin was on time. Very personable and explained products in detail and is very knowledgeable. Very thorough and the organic and eco friendly products were our first choice. We signed for the every other month especially for spiders and ants.”
~ Mark
View more

Pest Behavior & Solutions

Pest Behavior & Solutions

We Know About Pests, You Can Too. Visit our Pest Library for information
on the habits and habitats of some of the most common pests.

See Full List of Pest
  • General pest control and certified green pest control options:

Carpenters ants, bedbugs - separate esimate

Choose the service schedule you need:

Weekly, Monthly, Bi-Monthly, Quarterly, Reduced winter service.

See More General Pest Services

Free Inspections

Free Inspections
for Prevention & Extermination

We provide free inspections for
various complex pest control
situations. Our pest control services
are tailored to each community and
their unique micro-climates that
impact your pest control plan.

We are the first pest control company in Southern California to achieve the California EPA Integrated Pest Management Award.

  • In-door trapping
  • Out-door baiting or trapping
  • Full exclusion to keep them out!
  • Decontamination (see mites and parasites)
  • Clean-up
  • Maintenance monthly
View Our Plan for Rats and Mice
  • Indoor / outdoor eradication
  • Bee removal – hive and honeycomb
View Our Plan for Bees and Wasps
  • Monitoring
  • Commercial reporting
  • Clean-outs and maintenance
View Our Plan for Roaches
  • Comprehensive inspection
  • Written bedbug plan for owner – pest company
View Our Plan for Bed Bugs
  • Remediation / maintenance
  • Ground fumigation
  • Baiting
View Our Plan for Gophers and Squirrels
  • Single story eaves only (we do not service roofs or second story homes).
  • Full exclusion for nesting and perching
  • Decontamination (see mites and parasites)
  • Bird birth control
  • Pigeons
  • Starlings
  • Sparrows
  • Swallows
View Our Plan for Birds
  • Attic vacuuming
  • Power washing
  • Insulation removal – replacement
  • Full space area chemical fogging
  • Off-site disposal
View Our Plan for Mites and Parasites
Pest Control Product Labels & MSDS We welcome you to view pest control labels and MSDS information.