A Yatton property owner is irate after a crane fly infestation destroyed the grass in her new property. She is now demanding the property development company rectify the lawn at her house and any other homes affected.
But the developers who built the new-build properties in Eaton Park, Yatton, said it is the responsibility of the owners to resolve the problem as the houses were signed off in good condition. The owner, who did not want to be named, said the larvae infestation was “totally destroying many gardens”, but the developer Curo Homes said it only knew of two homes that had been impacted.
Speaking to Bristol Live the owner said: “The outside of the property is their (developers) responsibility if there already was an infestation of crane fly larvae (daddy long legs). It starts when the turf is put down and it’s likely it was in the ground or in the turf when the turf was laid. It takes 12 months for it to appear.”
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She added that her property is rented out and the tenant had tried a number of times to fix the dying lawn, such as re-seeding it. She said the tenant has since given notice and is moving out.
She confirmed that her garden has now been treated, but it would take a few weeks to see if the issue had been fixed and grass would grow again. “We are going to have to get the garden done as we won’t be able to rent with the garden looking like that,” she added.
A spokesperson for Curo Homes said: “Our customer care department visited two homes in Eaton Park on April 18th, 2023 and identified that gardens have been affected by crane flies, which can cause damage to turf if not detected and treated promptly,
“Both of the homes had been handed over to the customer back in December 2021 and the customer signed off on all required documentation to confirm the good condition of the gardens.
“Once handed over, it is the responsibility of the customer to maintain their gardens. We advise customers to seek professional advice regarding remediation and to regularly maintain their lawns through activities such as mowing, aerating and removing thatch.”
Adult crane flies, also known as ‘daddy long legs’ or ‘leatherjackets’ emerge in late summer and lay their eggs in lawns and flower beds. Their larvae develop underground over eight to 10 months and feed on grass and plant roots.
These cause patches of dead or dying grass. When fully grown, the crane fly pupates just below the ground and emerges as an adult in late summer to early autumn.
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