Mosquito Hawk Control: How To Get Rid of Mosquito Hawks (Crane Flies)

This page is a Mosquito Hawk control guide. By using the products and methods suggested, you will get rid of mosquito hawks (crane flies). Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of mosquito hawks.

If you are noticing brown patches in your grass, you might have a mosquito hawk infestation. The mosquito hawk, also commonly known as a crane fly, looks similar to a mosquito, except it is much larger with longer legs. If left alone, this insect can cause noticeable damage to your lawn.

Although they might have an intimidating look, mosquito hawks are harmless as adults. It is the mosquito hawk larvae that can be a problem by causing damage to vegetation. The larvae have the appearance of white or brown worms and are known to eat roots and stems.

Our professional DIY treatment guide can help you to get rid of a mosquito hawk infestation with ease.

Identification

Before carrying out a treatment program, you need to make sure that you properly identify the pest to be a mosquito hawk. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong pesticides and not getting the desired result in eliminating the pest.

• Adult mosquito hawks grow up to be 2 inches in length, legs included. Their bodies are long and slender, just as their legs are. Some people might refer to these flies as mosquitoes, however, mosquitoes are different pests entirely.
• Average mosquito species are only ¼ of an inch in length. The females have piercing mouthparts they use to suck blood with. All mosquito hawks, male and female, lack any piercing mouthparts.
• Some people may also refer to crane flies as “mosquito hawks,” either because they look like mosquitos, or it’s thought these flies hunt mosquitos. Neither is true since many adult crane flies don’t eat and die just a few days into maturity.
• Mosquito hawk larvae are also referred to as “leatherjackets.” They grow 2 to 3 inches in length. These larvae lack legs, and they can be white, grey, green, or brown. These larvae also have finger-like appendages at the tail ends of their bodies.

Use the description and image above to determine whether the pest you are encountering is a mosquito hawk. If you are not totally sure, contact our experts and we will try to assist you with correct identification.

Inspection

The next step in the control process is inspection. Inspecting the property for mosquito hawk activity is important because this will ensure a more targeted application, and will help you focus pesticide applications in the right place.

Where to Inspect

Mosquito hawk larvae are active during spring and fall. Adults will lay egg clusters in bodies of water or in moist soil. Once they hatch, they’ll feed on surrounding plant material.

Scan the property, keeping an eye out for high-moisture areas, such as mulch beds, flower beds, near lawn fountains, or around the structure where faucets and other plumbing may drip or leak. Take note of these leaky or high-moisture areas, as they will need to be addressed in order to prevent re-infestations.

What to Look For

High adult activity can also indicate potential larvae activity. Crane flies breed near egg-laying sites, so if you see adult flies on your property, you can expect to see larvae soon after.

Check your lawn for patches of brown or dying grass. You can use your hands to comb along the edges of discolored patches to look for larvae on the surface, but you’ll also need to dig to check underground.

Dig a 1-foot square about 3 inches deep along the edge of any patches you have found. Lift up the grass, and note if there is any pest activity. You may see a couple of larvae, but if a high number is clustered around, then that’s cause for concern.

Treatment

Once you have completed your inspection and know the areas that need to be treated, you can begin the process of controlling mosquito hawks. Always wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling and applying pesticides. 

For effective mosquito hawk control, use a combination of Supreme I/T, Valar Plus and Martin's IG Regulator. All three pesticides will work together to target adult and larvae mosquito hawks.

If you are looking for mosquito hawk prevention, it is important to note that Supreme I/T should only be used from August to February. If Supreme I/T is applied at any time before or after this, it will only suppress the presence of mosquito hawks rather than control them.

Depending on the pesticide, the product may be specifically labeled for crane fly which is another name for mosquito hawks. 

Step 1: Apply Valar Plus to Lawn

To treat your property for crane flies and other pests, start with an application of Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules. Valar Plus is labeled to kill many pests that infest turf and ornamentals, including crane flies.

This product will need to be applied with a push spreader, and a single application will protect treated areas for up to 3 months.

Start by first calculating the square footage of your lawn or treatment area. Do this by measuring the treatment areas length and width in feet, and then multiplying them together (length x width = square footage).

To eliminate and control crane fly larvae, the labeled application rate for crane fly control is 4.6 pounds of product per 1,000 square feet.

Load your spreader with the proper amount of Valar Plus, and evenly distribute all of it throughout your treatment area.

Broadcast half your granules in parallel lines once across your area, then broadcast the other half at a perpendicular angle to cover the area in its entirety.

Step 2: Apply Supreme I/T and Martin's I.G. Regulator

Once you have finished your granular application, water it into the soil with an application of Supreme IT and Martin's I/G Regulator.

These two products along with Valar Plus will provide full coverage throughout your turf and target pests in different stages of their life cycles. While Valar Plus and Supreme I/T eliminate pests on contact with the active ingredient, Martin's I.G Regulator will stunt the growth of juvenile pests and prevent from reaching reproductive maturity.

Supreme I/T and  Martin's I.G. Regulator will need to be mixed together with water before application.

First, determine how much product you need by measuring the square footage of your treatment area or lawn. This can be done by measuring the width and length of your lawn, and then multiplying those numbers together (length x width = square feet.)

To treat crane flies with Supreme, apply the labeled rate of 0.75 fl. oz. of product per 1,500 square feet of treatment area. For Martin's I.G. Regulator, you will use 1 fl. oz. per 1,500 square feet.

We recommend you make this application with a hose-end sprayer to apply enough water to drive the Valar Plus granules into the soil. Evenly distribute your solution over your treatment area. When spraying liquid products, be sure to apply on calm days when wind speeds are low to minimize drift .

Prevention

After eliminating mosquito hawks, you will need to take preventative measures with your property in order to completely prevent future infestations.

• Since mosquito hawks breed near water and moist soil, you will need to regulate the amount of water your lawn receives and retains. When you water your lawn, give your grass 1-1.5 inches of water once a week.
• In addition to proper watering, regularly rake, dethatch, and aerate your lawn to promote air circulation. Trim back tree branches to reduce shade and encourage evaporation. When mowing your lawn, mow to a taller height, about 3-4 inches to encourage root growth. Finally, make sure you fertilize your lawn with the proper amount of nitrogen it needs so it can stay healthy and fight against minor pest activity.
• Keep up with regulator quarterly applications of Supreme IT and Martin's IG Regulator every 90 days to control mosquito hawks. 

Key Takeaways

What are Mosquito Hawks?

• Mosquito Hawks, also known as crane flies, resemble mosquitoes, but are much larger and have long, thin legs. These pests are common during summer weather where they show up in large numbers.

How To Get Rid of Crane Flies or Mosquito Hawks

• First apply an application of Valar Plus then use a mixture of Supreme I/T and Martin's IG Regulator to control a mosquito hawk infestation. Mix the products with water in a hose-end sprayer and apply to the affected areas to prevent Mosquito Hawks from returning.

Preventing Mosquito Hawk (Crane Fly) Reinfestation

• Mosquito hawk infestations can be avoided with proper lawn care and soil aeration. You can also apply preventative applications of Supreme I/T and Martin's IG Regulator to keep mosquito hawks away.