How come there is such a large number of crane flys in Britain this year? Is it because the summer was so dry
Answers:
Rain blamed for crane fly plague
Wet weather has allowed crane fly populations to explode
The summer downpours led to an explosion in the population of flying daddy longlegs.
People across the UK leaving windows open in the heat have found their homes filling with the gangly insects, officially known as crane flies.
Dr Henry Disney, from Cambridge University, said: "The main emergence of crane flies usually coincides with the start of the soccer season.
"If conditions are suitably wet when larvae are growing they will flourish."
The common lawn crane fly which can emerge from lawns and meadows in large numbers is identified as the chief culprit.
"They create those yellow patches in the lawn because the larvae chomp away on the roots," Dr Disney said.
"People open their windows to get cool and the crane flies get in and then cover the windows trying to get out, which is when people notice them."
The insects are attracted by light. Despite causing panic by flapping against lampshades they are completely harmless.
Yes
I thought it was just my garden! They're a nightmare, getting everywhere.. the grass is crawling with them.
Guess you're probably right, the weather may affect them.
You mean Daddy longlegs. The reason is becauseIt was dry when the eggs were laid, but more importantly it was warm and the ground was wet and loose when they hatched so a larger number were able to make from underground.
yes. i read about this just recently. it is due to the weather. sadly for us arachnaphobics this also means bigger spiders!!
Thousands of homes have been invaded by swarms of daddy long-legs after two of the hottest months on record combined with sporadic rainfall to create perfect breeding conditions.
The combination of hot summer weather with some rain over recent weeks is thought to be behind the "plague" of daddy long-legs.
There you have it!
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can everyone just stop going on about the damn daddy long legs!
They are just here to annoy me, Im sure of it..its a conspiracy!!
they enjoy the dry and wet conditions, so this year was perfect for them.
Yes it is due to hot weather, a plague of them, and there will probably be even more of the darned things next year now.
Can we stop talking about them now, I hate the darned things, they make me itch just thinking about them. Thanks!
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