Crane Fly

Yesterday as I was out at the Oregon State Turf Farm I was walking across the Poa green and noticed this guy poking up out of the surface. This is a crane fly emerging from its pupate stage. Crane fly are known for causing damage on turfgrass but only during their 3rd instar stage of life as a leather jacket. They eat the roots and crowns of the plant and can cause browning or in some cases death of the turf in small areas. Crane flies are not harmfull in their adult stage and you can most likely find one anywhere there is turf. The simplest way to control crane fly is by limiting your amount of irrigation approaching labor day. This is the time when they lay their eggs, lack of water will affect their ability to do so.
And as always, have a nice day!