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Reference · Pests

Crane flies

Crane flies belong to the family Tipulidae within the order Diptera. While adult crane flies are harmless, their larvae, commonly known as "leatherjackets," are significant pests that cause considerable economic damage to various agricultural crops worldwide.

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Black Crane Fly Tanyptera atrata Common crane fly Nephrotoma ferruginea Common crane fly Tipula graminivora Crane fly Tipula Crane fly Nephrotoma Crane fly Nephrotoma sodalis Nephrotoma sodalis Ctenophora ornata Ctenophora ornata European crane fly Nephrotoma makiella European crane fly Tipula paludosa Georgian crane fly Tipula georgiana Imperial Crane Fly Nephrotoma imperialis Marsh crane fly Tipula latemarginata Marsh crane fly Tipula lateralis Marsh Crane Fly Tipula marginata Marsh crane fly Tipula melanoceros Marsh crane fly Tipula maxima Marsh crane fly Tipula nubeculosa Marsh crane fly Tipula obsoleta Marsh crane fly Tipula oleracea Marsh crane fly Tipula pabulina Marsh crane fly Tipula subnodicornis Marsh crane fly Tipula vernalis Nephrotoma dorsalis Nephrotoma dorsalis Nephrotoma lineata Nephrotoma lineata Nephrotoma maculosa Nephrotoma maculosa Quayle crane fly Tipula quaylei Small crane fly Tipula parva Spotted crane fly Nephrotoma cornicina Spotted crane fly Nephrotoma crocata Spotted crane fly Nephrotoma flavescens Spotted crane fly Nephrotoma appendiculata Spotted crane fly Nephrotoma virgata Spotted Crane Fly Tipula scripta Spotted crane fly Ctenophora Tanyptera crane fly Tanyptera Tipula aino Tipula aino Tipula bicornis Tipula bicornis Tipula conjugata Tipula conjugata Tipula czizeki Tipula czizeki Tipula loewiana Tipula loewiana Two-colored crane fly Tipula duplex Yellow-striped crane fly Tipula flavolineata

Crane flies

These pests target a wide range of crops, including winter cereals, wheat, barley, maize, potatoes, and various root vegetables. They are particularly problematic in pasture lands and fields with high soil moisture levels, which favor their survival and development.

The biology of Tipulidae is characterized by a multi-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larval stage is the most destructive, as they remain in the soil, feeding on root systems and the stems of young plants just below the soil surface, especially during the spring months.

The damage caused by leatherjackets is often observed as sudden thinning of crop stands. By feeding on roots, they sever the plant from its nutrient supply, leading to wilting, yellowing, and eventually the death of the plant, which often results in significant yield loss.

Integrated pest management strategies are essential to minimize the damage caused by crane flies:

  • Implementing crop rotation to break the life cycle of the pest.
  • Cultivating the soil to expose larvae and pupae to predators and environmental stress.
  • Controlling weeds in fallow fields to prevent female crane flies from laying eggs.
  • Applying specific insecticides if threshold populations are exceeded, focusing on early detection.