Crane flies

Crane flies are familiar and slightly frightening to many because the adults look so much like giant mosquitoes. Also known as mosquito hawks (or by their scientific name Tipula), the adult stage of the cranefly actually does not bite and is generally quite harmless.

Unfortunately, the same isn't true for the larvae, also known as leatherjackets, of the cranefly. These almost prehistorically ugly creatures live in the soil and feed on the roots and crowns of cool-season turf plants. They…