Your grass suddenly looks a sorry sight, with yellow patches, bare patches, and birds pecking away at your lawn. Chances are you're dealing with leatherjackets. But what exactly are they, how long do they stay under your lawn, and why are they so persistent? Time to unravel the life cycle of these underground culprits.
How long do leatherjackets live?
A leatherjacket is the larva of the crane fly and lives in the soil for about 6 to 8 months . During that time, they feed on the roots of grass and other plants, literally eating your lawn from the bottom up. Then they pupate into adult crane flies. These crane flies only live a short time, but they do lay new eggs. And so the story begins again.
Why can't I get a grip on leatherjackets?
The problem lies in their hidden lifestyle and the fixed rhythm of their development:
- Eggs: In August or September, a crane fly lays its eggs in the grass. The larvae (leatherjackets) hatch after about 10 to 14 days .
- Grubs (leaches) : The grubs remain underground for 6 to 8 months . They feed on the roots of your grass starting in September and remain active until April. In mild winters, they even continue feeding into January and February.
- Pupae: In spring, usually in May or June, they pupate in the ground. This stage lasts about 2 to 3 weeks .
- Adult mosquitoes: Crane flies emerge from late August to early October. They live for only 3 to 5 days , but lay up to 300 eggs during that time. Then they die, and the whole thing starts over again.
So you don't see them, but they're eating away at your soil for months. And just as you've finished one generation, the next one is already starting.
