Cover Story
E U R O P E AN I NVA DER S:
Invasive Crane Flies Swarm the Region in 2020
By Ben McGraw, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science
A
global pandemic, work restrictions, severe drought... and massive swarms of insects? As if the challenges in 2020 were not apocalyptic enough, many turfgrass managers from Ohio to the Canadian Maritime provinces observed hordes of European crane fly (ECF) emerging from the ground during September and October. The sheer size of the swarms, number of reports and samples submitted to the Turfgrass Entomology Lab at Penn State, as well as the detection of species in new areas would suggest that populations are increasing in Pennsylvania. Accurate pest identification and vigilance in monitoring are essential for managing ECF, which until now have enjoyed minor pest status in the Commonwealth. This article is intended to serve as a guide to understanding ECF outbreaks and what to look for moving forward.
1 8 Pennsylvania Turfgrass • Winter 2021
FIGURE 1: Adult marsh crane fly (Tipula oleracea)
