The known range of the common crane fly (Tipula oleracea L.) is expanding in the western US, as adults were captured (by me) in Utah while emerging and flying over golf course rough. Adults were collected at The Ridge Golf Course in West Valley City on 15 September, 2014, and identified by Dr. Benjamin McGraw at the Pennsylvania State University Turfgrass Entomology Lab in University Park, PA. Crane fly larvae (known as leather jackets for their tough skin) were previously found (again, by me) with the help of golf course superintendent Brian Roth on 4 August, 2012 damaging putting greens at Oquirrh Hills golf course in Tooele, UT. The specimens were confirmed by Dr. Daniel Peck of EntomoTech Fundamentals in Geneva, NY as those of crane flies. The larvae were an unfamiliar pest at this site to the long-tenured superintendent. It was surmised that pupae and larvae of T. oleracea were introduced from Oregon in contaminated nursery stock installed the previous year (2011) during a renovation project at Oquirrh Hills.
More information on the detection of this exotic pest can be found on the following links:
Link to peer reviewed article in Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management journal
Link to Utah State University IPM publication
Link to Utah State University Fact Sheet about the Common crane fly