ACK! What Are These Huge Mosquito Things?
Chances are, you've encountered a Crane Fly or two in your lifetime. You know, those huge, creepy, mosquito-looking things that fly around wildly? Lots of people call them Mosquito Eaters, or Mosquito Hawks. Some people even think they ARE mosquitos, either male or female, depending on who you're talking to.

The truth is, these creatures are Crane Flies, and except for the heart-pumping panic their large appearance can cause, they are harmless to humans. Summer is the time of year these creatures start to show up in noteworthy numbers. There are several varieties of this insect, but only one of them is harmful to the landscape. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you are probably seeing European Crane Flies. This is a major pest of the Pacific Northwest, because they lay their eggs in lawns. The larvae, called Leatherjackets (because they are SO hard to squish!), spend the Winter & Spring eating away at the roots of lawn grass by day, and the leafy stems at night. Soon, your lawn will start to disappear entirely, leaving you with a muddy yard and possibly lots of birds flocking to the feast dwelling beneath the surface. Depending on the severity of the infestation, your lawn may or may not recover.

To prevent this situation from happening, use beneficial nematodes in the Fall, and again in the Spring. Beneficial nematodes will seek out and kill underground dwelling pests, although they will not harm earthworms.

For further reading: http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/garden/Lawn/leatherjackets.html , http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/eb0856/eb0856.html , http://www.ent.orst.edu/urban/European%20Crane%20Fly.html , http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/turf/research/cranefly.htm .

Beneficial Nematode application