Control crane flies (leatherjackets) with nematodes

Crane flies can cause considerable damage, especially to lawns. The culprits are not the adult crane flies but their larvae in the soil, known as leatherjackets. They feed on the roots and can cause yellow or brown patches and bare areas in the lawn.

With the nematode product nemastar® young leatherjackets can be controlled specifically and biologically. Timing is crucial: application should take place in autumn, while the larvae are still at an early stage of development.

Nematodes against leatherjackets: nemastar®

nemastar® contains nematodes of the species Steinernema carpocapsae (SC nematodes) for the biological control of leatherjackets. The nematodes are applied with water and actively search the soil for the young larvae.

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€14.25*

Prices incl. VAT plus shipping costs

Available, delivery time: 2-4 days

Package size

5 Mio. / 10 m²

10 Mio. / 20 m²

25 Mio. / 50 m²

50 Mio. / 100 m²

Product number: 1503010

Recognising crane flies in the lawn

With their long legs, adult crane flies look like particularly large mosquitoes. However, they are largely harmless to people and plants. The actual lawn damage is caused by their larvae, which develop in the soil.

Leatherjackets are grey to greyish-brown, legless and can grow several centimetres long. They live mainly in the soil or just below the turf, where they feed on plant material and roots.

Crane flies are often only noticed once visible damage has already appeared in the lawn.

What damage do leatherjackets cause?

An infestation with leatherjackets can show itself through various symptoms:

Yellow or brown patches in the lawn
Bare areas and dying grass
Damaged or eaten lawn roots
Loose turf and additional damage from birds searching the lawn for the larvae

The damage often becomes clearly visible in spring. The problem: by then the larvae are already more developed. Early application in autumn is therefore crucial for biological control with nematodes.

What do I need to bear in mind when using nematodes?

Timing determines the success of the treatment.

Crane flies should be controlled with nematodes in autumn, even if there is often no clear lawn damage visible at that time. The recommended application period for nemastar® against leatherjackets is between September and mid-October. During this phase the young larvae are at a development stage in which they can be controlled particularly well with nematodes.

If you only react to bare or brown patches in the lawn in spring, it is often too late for an effective nematode treatment against the by then larger leatherjackets.

Remember: spot crane fly damage in spring – take action against the next generation in autumn.

How do nematodes work against leatherjackets?

nemastar® contains beneficial nematodes of the species Steinernema carpocapsae. These microscopic roundworms move through the moist soil and actively search for suitable host larvae.

When the nematodes encounter young leatherjackets, they enter them and release symbiotic bacteria. As a result, the infected larvae die. The nematodes then multiply inside the host and can go on to seek out further suitable larvae in the soil.

This allows the infestation to be reduced biologically and specifically before the leatherjackets cause major lawn damage in spring.

Three reasons for nematodes from e-nema:

Safe and effective

Nematodes are the natural solution against fungus gnats. The tiny roundworms control the larvae completely biologically and effectively. No chemicals, no side effects.

Service and advice

We have been producing and selling nematodes for biological plant protection for more than 25 years. Do you have questions? We have the answers!

Controlled quality

Every production batch is carefully checked and tested for quality. We only sell what really works.