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Crane fly
The European crane fly, Tipula paludosa, is a pest which has become established in the Pacific Northwest especially in areas with a maritime climate. There are reports of it establishing in parts of Northern California as well. Although largely a turf and pasture pest, it has been found feeding on such hosts as annual and perennial flowers and several types of vegetables and small fruits.
The adult crane fly has very long legs and looks like a large mosquito with a body about an inch long, not including the legs. Homeowners are alarmed when thousands of these large flies gather on the sides of homes. The crane fly does not bite or sting; it does no damage to houses; but its numbers do excite homeowners.
 
The wing span may be 2" across. Adults are clumsy and weak fliers. They are often found
resting on an outside wall of a house, under a porch or in a garage. They may gain entry to
a house when a door or window is opened. However, crane flies are harmless. Adults are short
lived and may feed on floral nectar or not at all. There are many species.
Typical damage
Crane Fly eggs are laid in the upper 2-4cm of the soil and are black and oval in shape about 0.1cm long. The larvae of the European crane fly are known as leatherjackets because of their thick skin. They are light gray or greenish brown with irregular black specks. Leatherjackets are cylindrical but taper slightly at both ends and are typically 3-4 cm at maturity. The pupa is formed inside the last instar cuticle and is called a puparium. The pupae are brown and spiny and are 3.3 cm in length.
The leatherjackets feed primarily on turf on home lawns, golf courses and sometimes pasture grasses. They feed during the day at or below the surface of the turf on root hairs, roots and crowns. On damp warm nights, they migrate to the surface of the turf and eat stems and grass blades. Damage to turf occurs in the spring. Damage can occur on golf greens from birds pecking out the leatherjackets from the greens.
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