Problem:

European Crane Fly

Tipula paludosa The adult form of this insect looks like a large mosquito with very long legs that break off easily. European crane flies often swarm around houses in large numbers in late summer. Their numbers are alarming, but adult crane flies do not sting or do any other damage. They lay eggs in lawns, pastures, or fields in late summer. The grubs that hatch from the eggs feed on grass blades and clover during the fall, spend the winter buried in the soil, and resume feeding in the spring. The most severe damage occurs in March and April. Feeding stops by mid-May. The adults emerge in late August and September. The grass is rarely killed in the damaged areas and recovers after feeding stops.