The adults — otherwise known as crane flies or daddy longlegs — do not feed.

They lay eggs in the soil during the summer.

The 45 mm long larvae are a greyish brown colour and tubular. They feed on roots and the stem base of small plants; it is at the larval stage that the root damage is done. Soil soaking with pesticides as for vine weevil when available is the only pesticide control allowed at present. Use of nematodes is suggested.