Leatherjacketsinlawns are a real pest and can have severe consequences unless killed. They are a pest of the lawn, for they eat the roots of the grass plants causing the grass to die. LeatherjacketsinLawn. What are Leatherjackets?Birds and Badgers like to eat them, so let them! They may ruffle your lawn up a little when searching for them but they will help to get rid of the problem whilst the leatherjackets are still at the larvae stage. LeatherjacketPestsin Your Lawn. Exactly what are leatherjacket insects?Leatherjacket Grub Control. Controlling leatherjacket larvae in your lawn isn’t always necessary. If you’re lucky, leatherjackets may be snatched up by hungry crows, magpies, or robins (or even cats). Leatherjacketlawn damage. A lawn in Exeter destroyed by leatherjackets over winter. A mild, damp winter will bring leatherjackets closer to the surface and they will be able to keep feeding. As a result, damage to lawns in spring is always a lot worse after a mild winter. Lawnpest control. It is important that lawnpests are identified before they cause extensive damage to your lawn. The earlier they are identified and treated, the more minimised the damage will be. Leatherjackets are 2.5cm / 1″ long, greyish black in colour, legless and with no distinct head. Small birds i.e. starlings pecking at the lawn is a sure sign of a leatherjacket infestation. What makes leatherjackets a problem? The Leatherjackets (larvae of the Crane fly) feed on the grass roots and shoots and can strip large areas of a lawn in just a few days. Leatherjackets feast on the roots of grass seed, meaning they can destroy lawns from the inside out. There are currently no chemical pesticides which deal with these pesky grubs so prevention is key, but there is one method which can help defeat an infestation. Garden pests - Leatherjackets. closeup of crane fly larvae - known as leatherjackets.Read on to find out how to deal with these garden pests. Browse our full range of grass seed to keep your lawn in top condition. What are leatherjackets? LeatherJacket (larvae), Crane Fly (adult) Lawns in the Greater Toronto Area have another insect pest to contend with – craneflies and leatherjackets. Typically your lawn has been harassed by chinch bugs and white grubs. Leatherjackets, the larvae of crane flies (commonly known as daddy long-legs), are recognized as common lawnpests, especially attracted to fresh turf. These pests reside just beneath the lawn's surface until they mature into adult flies from August to October. Green roof pestsLeatherjackets have the potential to impact extensive green roofs, planters, and lawns on intensive green roofs and podiums. LawnPestsLeatherjackets During the spring and summer you may notice small brown marks appearing on your lawn. Why? Well this could well be the work of leatherjackets which are the larvae of the Crane Fly (more commonly known as the daddy longlegs!) Leatherjacketlawn damage. Leatherjackets will consume the roots and during nighttime, I’ve seen them come to the surface to consume the grass blades as well. I’ve even seen badgers and foxes tear up the grass as they search for the grubs. Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.