Leatherjackets are the larvae of crane flies, often referred to as daddy-long-legs. In the late summer and early autumn, eggs laid by crane flies in the soil hatch and leatherjackets emerge, ready to start munching their way through your lawn.
Leatherjackets are more easily identified in the autumn months, and this is also the most efficient time to treat a leatherjacket infestation.
Due to their small size and colouring, leatherjackets can be hard to identify. If you’ve found your way to this blog, you’re probably wondering what leatherjackets look like. So, let’s get into it!
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Autumn is an undoubtedly beautiful time of year, leaves tumbling in the crisp autumn breeze, blinding in stunning shades of red and gold.
Unfortunately, along with this plethora of natural beauty, there are some not-so-lovely sights you might expect to see this autumn, including seasonal pests infesting your lawn.
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Leatherjackets are a common lawn pest that can quickly ravish a healthy lawn, but did you know they prefer young new lawns over old ones? That's right, leatherjackets are commonly found infesting the lawns of new build properties where the lawn has only recently been laid. You might also find them in young turf or lawns that have recently been overseeded.
But why do leatherjackets prefer new lawns? Well, the answer is - they're fussy eaters! They have a very specific taste for young lawns because young lawns have sweet, tender roots. The roots of older lawns are bitter, tougher and harder to chew through.
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Leatherjackets - the larvae of crane flies - are a common garden pest here in the UK. If you've never witnessed the damage that these grubs can do to a lawn, well, here's a photo:
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If you've got a leatherjacket infestation in your lawn, you might be looking for a quick and efficient way to get rid of them. Left untreated, leatherjackets will chew through your grassroots and cause large clumps of grass to die back. You can sometimes spot leatherjackets in your soil while digging up your borders to plant flowers, but the most common sign of leatherjackets is birds pecking at your lawn. If you think you might have leatherjackets, you should look at getting rid of them straight away!
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