Leather Jacket Lather

[sweetiepea]

While preparing to plant out some cabbage plants and radishes yesterday, I discovered scores of leather jackets in one half of the brassica bed. Never seen such a concentration. They were even on the surface! I spent an hour and a half picking them out (seemed to be concentrated in the top few centimetres) and think that’s most of them gone. I’ve noticed a few in some of the other beds too but not more than two or three. I’d understand if it was a new bed but it’s been used in rotation for three years. All the little blighters have met a watery end. Hope they can’t swim! Needless to say, crane fly zapper will be in full use come September!

Anyway, my dilemma is: do I risk planting in this bed? I can’t really afford to leave it empty – too much up and coming. Went hunting again this morning and found nothing else so far. Should I risk it?

[lynda66]

give it a good dig and try covering with black plastic for a few days, they should come to the surface and you can pick em off, they do disappear quite quickly when you pull the plastic back though .... i was over run with them a few years ago, but now there's the odd one combined with the zapper when they fly, seems to do the trick ... if you can get rid of most of them it should be ok to plant

[sweetiepea]

thanks lynda66, will give it a go.

[Two_Sheds]

The easiest way to clear them is to lay black plastic down one day, and the next morning whip it off so the birds can have a feast.

[lynda66]

that only works if you have birds two sheds we don't get any in front garden

[snohare]

crane fly zapper will be in full use come September

What is a crane fly zapper ? I know of craneflies (I actually have quite a soft spot for them, in the right place ) but a zapper I know nothing of.

[lynda66]

and electric fly squatter can usually get em in pound shops they electrocute the horrid beasties

[sweetiepea]

Just wanted to say thanks Lynda66. The black plasticworked a treat. Six more little bl***ters have now gone to their maker! Didn't find any more in the soil.