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Winter Crane Flies #889646

Asked November 11, 2024, 9:56 AM EST

Good morning, I need your advice on Winter Crane Flies. At present and for the last month and half, we have an overabundance of Winter Crane Flies. They are everywhere in the yard. For background… We have a small suburban yard. Property is equipped with an irrigation system, so the property is well hydrated throughout the growing season. We have a significant bird population due to many trees on the property and several that have berries & fruit. There is water, cover and we feed the birds during the winter months. They are at present consuming many of the Winter Crane Flies. We use Scott’s Grub-Ex the first week of July for grubs and cinch bugs. It’s my understanding that this product also works for Winter Crane Flies? We did have some unusual browning of the lawn this summer that I have not seen over the last 50 years living here. I do not know if this is related to the Winter Crane Flies or something else? I just wanted to share the information with you. Can you advise how I can treat for them? What product besides Grub-Ex would be beneficial? What else could/should we be doing? Thanks in advance for your help.

Wayne County Michigan

Expert Response

Winter Crane Flies (family Trichoceridae) do not damage turf grass. There are some species of Crane Fly (Tipulidae) that are occasional lawn pests in Michigan, including the European Crane Fly (Tipula paludosa). Most adult Crane Flies are much larger than Winter Crane Fly adults, but otherwise they can be hard to differentiate from each other. It is common to see large numbers of Winter Crane Flies at this time of year, because the adults are emerging now to spend the winter in the adult form. They will reappear in late winter/early spring to start mating and laying eggs. However, Winter Crane Flies are not pests of turf, so large numbers of them in your yard is no cause for concern. You can read more about European Crane Fly in this article from MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/watch_for_european_crane_fly_injury_to_turfgrass_in_april_and_may 
An Ask Extension Expert Replied November 11, 2024, 2:08 PM EST

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