How to Keep your Grounds Free of Leather Jackets

Leather Jackets Pest Control

Leather jackets, also known as daddy long legs, are a common type of pest that can cause damage to your grounds if left to their own devices. If you are someone who prides themselves on the pristine look of their garden or are in charge of keeping sports grounds healthy and well cared for, leather jackets control will be your top priority. Learn more about how to spot these pests and stop them before it’s too late.

How to Spot Leather Jackets

At first, you may have a hard time trying to identify these pests as they are very small and difficult to see, however, there are a few more obvious signs you can look out for if you suspect that your grounds have become infested. Firstly, these small creatures are considered a hearty meal by local birds whom you can often find pecking at the ground in search of a snack. Another clear sign is the colour of the turf. Oftentimes when there is a severe infestation, the ground may turn a yellow colour or the grass may stop growing altogether, leaving patches of bare ground. If you do manage to actually find one, you can identify a leather jacket through a few key characteristics. They are typically shaped like a grub and have a long greyish brown body with wings; they are often compared to mosquitos with a slightly different flying pattern.

Pest Control

The best way to get rid of your pests quickly and efficiently is by calling in professionals. A company with lots of experience in not only pest control but also general grounds maintenance will have the right qualifications to help you get your turf to what it once was. They are likely to know about how to accurately spot an infestation as well as the general lifecycle of leather jackets, helping them to exterminate the grubs before they breed and spread.

What is the Extermination Process?

So how do the professionals do leather jackets control? First, they identify which areas of the turf have been infected as well as areas that may become damaged. This can be difficult to spot for someone who isn’t an expert. They do this to try and limit the amount of damage caused by the pests. A biological tool is used called the nematode Steinernema feltiae which attacks the daddy long legs by entering any body openings. They infect them with a bacteria which causes them to stop eating and starve to death. The nematodes then feed on the bodies and disperse to find any more leather jackets that might be close by. This is also beneficial if the pests decide to return in the future.

After Care and Prevention

Once there has been leather jackets control, there are steps that must be followed to help bring the turf back to life. With the yellowing grass and bare spots, lawn care is especially important so that the grass is able to grow back full and healthy. As well as this, there are preventative measures you can take to stop leather jackets or other pests from damaging your grounds again. To learn more about this, visit the ALS Contracts website.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to turf care and infestations by leather jackets, swift action is important to prevent severe damage. This is why calling in professional pest control, such as ALS Contracts, is the best option to help bring your grounds back to life. Learn more about their pest control services as well as their grounds maintenance services by visiting their website.