Rhizotrogus majalis). The European chafer is a very serious grub pest of turf and can cause more turf damage than the Japanese beetle. Living most of its life in the soil, the beetle's wormlike larvae do the most damage by feeding heavily on grass roots, creating visible patches of dead and dying turf. The European Chafer Beetle is an introduced species that wreaks havoc on lawns. Adult European chafer beetles are tan in color and resemble a small June beetle. The European chafer can destroy turf, and could cause extensive damage to homeowners’ lawns if they become established in Washington. Adults are active on warm evenings (above 65 degrees F) for several hours just before and after sunset. The damage is most noticeable between fall and early spring when the grubs are full grown. Folks in Michigan have been dealing with this insect for many years now, but it is relatively new to Indiana; adults of this species were first detected in Porter, Kosciusko and Allen counties during 2007. Dead patches may appear if a heavy grub infestation is combined with prolonged dry weather. Grubs overwinter just below frozen soil and return to the surface as soon as the ground thaws. Most European chafer beetles have one generation per year, but a small proportion of the population may require two years to complete development. It is significantly more cold-hardy which allows it to feed later into the fall and start feeding earlier in the spring compared to Japanese beetle and masked chafer grubs. The problem is the grubs (their larvae) which hide in the soil just beneath the surface of your lawn. Visit the University of Minnesota website for information about diagnosing and managing problems with lawns and turf. Scientific name: Amphimallon majalis Razoumowsky (Syn. Minnesota had its first detection of the European chafer beetle in south Minneapolis located in Hennepin County in 2020. An invasive turf pest, the European Chafer Beetle was first discovered in the Lower Mainland in 2001 and has continued to spread into surrounding communities, including Surrey. They are similar to the “June bugs” commonly found in Minnesota in early summer but are generally a bit smaller and lighter in color. If your lawn is infested, it quickly becomes apparent when birds, skunks and raccoons come to feast…causing extensive damage. Although reports of spring white grub damage have been relatively uncommon in Indiana in recent years, there have been a growing number of cases in the northeastern part of the state. Frequent irrigation during the last two weeks of June makes the turf much less attractive to the adult females for egglaying. If you notice grub damage this time of year, take a closer look and try to find the larvae in the soil. Adult beetles are tan to brown in colour and reach approximately 1.5 centimeters in length. The 2 best treatments available today are 1. Damaged turf will start to turn brown and thin out. A lawn infested by European Chafer Beetles may seem wilted. The grubs may be distinguished from other white grubs through characteristics of the posterior of the abdomen, but an experienced entomologist may be needed. If you notice grub damage this time of year, take a closer look and try to find the larvae in the soil. European chafer grubs have been eating turf roots since late March when the snow melted. Once established these insects may require some special attention going forward as they tend to be more damaging and somewhat less vulnerable to traditional insecticide treatments. They measure approximately 1.5 cm long and are brown or tan in color. Irrigated lawns have shown resistance to damage in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Figure 3. European chafer adults are about a half-inch long and tannish in color. Product #: gm1074167566 $ 33.00 iStock In stock 625 Robert Street North But because they are so substantial, they make an ideal source of protein for birds and mammals. However, adult European chafers do not eat at all and so are not the problem defoliators that Japanese beetles are. Repair damaged turf by re-sowing with grass seed or laying turf in mid to late spring when the chafer grubs have moved deeper into the soil to pupate Less heavily managed lawns are thought to be more susceptible to damage, so attention paid to feeding, watering and moss prevention may help avoid damaging populations The European Chafer beetle is a grub that feeds on the roots of plants. Home lawns, golf courses, and turf growers have the potential to be most significantly impacted if the European chafer beetle were to become established in … When numerous, they can cause considerable damage to trees and shrubs and, because they are attracted to lights, they can also become a nuisance around buildings. It has been reported in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Ohio, Michigan, Delaware and southern Ontario. The European Chafer Beetle is a common, invasive pest in BC. Adult beetles emerge from the soil between mid June and early July in Michigan and New York, though emergence times vary and depend on temperature. confused with the European chafer beetle larvae or adults: NATIVE BEETLES • Ten-lined June beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata) can often be found in sandy soils in British Columbia. It was first identified in the Lower Mainland in New West Minster in 2001 and has since spread to many municipalities across Metro Vancouver. European chafer beetle was discovered in the U.S. in 1940, in a nursery near Rochester, New York. These eggs hatching into hungry grubs that start doing damage later in summer. Skunks and raccoons may turn over heavily infested turf in search of grubs to eat. other crops. The grubs, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm, are soft, white, and C-shaped with tan-coloured heads and six prominent legs. Example of chafer beetle and crow damage on a Vancouver lawn . European chafer was reported for the first time in Wisconsin in Door County during July 2013. Part of this difference may occur because the European chafer spends a longer portion of the summer feeding on turf. The European Chafer Beetle is an invasive insect pest. Skunks and raccoons may start digging up your lawn to eat the grubs. Learn how to beat the chafer beetle vancouver infestation. The European chafer Rhizotrogus majalis Razoumowsky is apparently at the root of several reports of large scale and severe damage to turfgrass this spring. European chafer adults feed very little on foliage and are not a problem. However, adult European chafers do not eat at all and so are not the problem defoliators that Japanese beetles are. The larvae, or grubs, have C-shaped bodies and brown heads and can reach up to 1 inch (25 mm) long, when mature. Contact the MDA via Arrest the Pest if you suspect an infestation of European chafer in Minnesota. The European Chafer Beetle originated in continental Europe but can now be found in temperate climates across North America. The European chafer beetle originates from Western and Central Europe. European Chafer Damage The larvae of European Chafer (white grubs) start feeding on turf roots in April and then again in September. Image 4 (above): Scout for European chafer grubs by digging a 1-foot long by 1-foot wide by 2-inch deep section of sod, the action threshold for high maintenance turf is 15–20 grubs per square foot. Even then, repeated application may be necessary and damage is not likely to be reversed at this late time. The larvae (or grubs) have brown heads and white, C-shaped bodies, and they’re smaller than a dime. As it’s name suggests, the European chafer beetle is native to Europe. Drier weather can quickly result in the appearance of brown, dying patches in turf or other crops. Adults are 20 to 35 mm long, substantially larger than the European chafer beetle, and they feed on foliage but do not cause economic damage to fruit trees (WSU-TFREC Damage thresholds have been estimated at five to 10 grubs per square foot for low maintenance turf. The dead patches have been growing larger each week, and are expected to peak in size at the end of April. Homeowners often find themselves bewildered by the speed and extent of the destruction which may ensue. They also may feed on the roots of crops, which could be costly to the agriculture industry. Beetle varieties such as Japanese beetle and European chafer lay their eggs in the yards in early to mid-summer. European chafer eggs hatch in mid-July. European chafers may also cause damage to a variety of field, forage and grain crops (see Figure 3). Insecticides containing the active ingredients imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniliprole are very effective against grubs when applied in June to mid-July. The beetles have been in North America since 1940, mostly confined to the East Coast and southern Ontario. European Chafer Beetle Family Name Scarabaeidae Species A. majale. The damage caused by chafer infestation to residential lawns is exacerbated by the fact that its grubs are an attractive food source for local fauna such as crows, foxes and raccoons, who relentlessly dig up the turf in search of the morsels. The grub itself likes to eat the roots of grasses and turf, destroying the plants. The mature beetles do not sting or bite and have quite a short life span. Email: drichmond@purdue.edu, © 2020 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by Turfgrass Science at Purdue University. Dead patches in the fall may become bare soil by April. European chafer grubs prefer to feed on fibrous roots, and can damage ornamental and nursery plants by reducing their fibrous root system. What is the European Chafer Beetle? In Michigan, the European chafer is now common through most of the Lower Peninsula. Grubs feed all winter long and pupate in May. Up close: Turf heavily infested with grubs can be easily rolled back when most of the roots have been consumed. The European chafer is a very serious grub pest of turf and can cause more turf damage than the Japanese beetle. In late winter to early spring crows, skunks and raccoons are all in search of the delicious and fatty chafer larvae overwintering underneath what was your grass! The damage appears as patches of thin or dead turf, or even bare soil. More than 300 species of plants have been recorded as hosts for these b… Keep records of any European chafer infestation in order to identify areas to keep an eye on going forward. Lawn damage as the wildlife starts ripping and pulling moss, grass and thatch out of the lawn. In the larval stage, the chafer can cause some damage to lawns resulting in brown patches. Most of the damage is done by the third (final) instar grubs in the fall and early spring, but damage can be masked by the abundant moisture at these times. Infested lawns may feel "spongy" due to the grubs tunnelling below. Its larvae feed on the roots of grasses, causing serious damage to lawns. The grubs, which cause most of the turf damage, measure approximately 2 to 2.5cm, are soft, white and C-shaped with tan-coloured heads and six prominent legs. 711 TTY, © Copyright 2020 Minnesota Department of Agriculture, There are no federal, state or local regulations related to European chafer, Farm, Property, Real Estate Listing (MN FarmLink), Agriculture Chemical Response & Reimbursement Account, Agricultural Best Management Practices (AgBMP) Loan, Agricultural Growth, Research & Innovation (AGRI) Program, Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration (AGRI), More Business Development, Loans, Grants Topics, Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program, Certified Testing Laboratories (soil & manure), Fertilizer Tonnage Reporting & Inspection Fees, Pesticide Dealer Licensing & Sales Reporting, characteristics of the posterior of the abdomen. Adult European chafers are tan or brown beetles resembling June beetles and measure approximately 1.5cm in length. Spring grub control can be difficult to achieve and the only realistic chemical options are trichlorfon or carbaryl. As an adult, it emerges, mates, and then lays the eggs for a new generation. Larvae have the typical C-shaped appearance of white grubs and can range from ¼-inch to 1-inch long with a dark brown head and conspicuous legs. The European Chafer Beetles have invaded Vancouver. According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the European chafer beetle (Amphimallon majale) can be more destructive to lawns than Japanese beetles because it has a longer feeding season as a grub. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) says a resident of south Minneapolis tipped them off to the presence of the European chafer beetle, which can cause major damage … It also shows up in areas with no previous history of white grub damage, including low maintenance areas. Adult Chafer Beetles are tan or brown, measuring approximately 1.5 centimetres (0.5 inches) long. When the grubs are ready to pupate in late spring to early summer, the grubs will again descend lower in the soil. Recommended products and application timings for white grub control can be found here: http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-259.pdf. European chafers may also cause damage to a variety of field, forage and grain crops (see Figure 3). The best control is achieved using a preventive approach with applications of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniliprole applied June through mid-July. Unfortunately, by the time you see these signs of damage at the surface level, the real damage to the grass root systems has already happened.The lifecycle of the European chafer beetle lasts one year: nine months of which they spend as grubs in your lawn. For this reason, late summer and early autumn are ideal for treating active grubs, before they burrow deeper when temperatures drop. European Chafer Causing Serious Damage in Northeastern Indiana, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-259.pdf, Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, 625 Agriculture Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, An equal access/equal opportunity university. Unlike the Japanese beetle, however, the European chafer is not a problem in daily irrigated turf. Once again look for chafer grubs on or just below the soil surface; If you suspect a problem peel back several patches of turf and if you have more than about 5 grubs per square foot then damage … Extensive, but patchy damage to winter wheat caused by European chafer grubs. Larvae feed on the roots of turf. Vancouver Chafer beetles can cause extensive damage to lawn turf due to the larvae feeding on the roots of the grass. These control strategies can help mitigate damage to turfgrass. Toll Free: 800-967-2474 Part of this difference may occur because the European chafer spends a longer portion of the summer feeding on turf. The larvae are white with brown heads, C-shaped, and can reach up to 2.5 centimeters in length. Here in Surrey, the Chafer Beetle has become an increasingly serious pest and many homeowners are frustrated by brown, torn apart lawns. The biggest problem causing the most visual damage is the fact that crows, skunks, and raccoons will tear apart what remains of your lawn in order to feast on this delicacy. Adult Japanese beetles are a serious problem. Doug Richmond, Turfgrass Entomologist and Extension Specialist Eggs are laid two to four inches below the soil surface and hatch in early August. Cleaning the turfs in your law regularly is one way to prevent them from getting damaged. June beetle adults feed on the foliage of aspen, chestnut, elm, maple, oak, poplar and willow and may strip the leaves from shrubs, roses and raspberries. This insect is a slightly different beast than our more familiar white grub species. With the help of several diligent individuals in the green industry, we have now linked several reports of serious spring white grub damage in LaGrange, Noble and Elkhart counties to this insect meaning that populations are now established in these areas and are likely established throughout the northern third of the state (see Figure 1 and 2). Home lawns, golf courses, and turf growers have the potential to be most significantly impacted if the European chafer beetle were to become established in Minnesota. European Chafer Beetle Adult European Chafer beetles are tan or brown beetles resembling June beetles but measure only about 1.5cm in length. European chafer larvae can easily be identified using a 10X hand lens to inspect the raster pattern (Figure 4). Saint Paul, MN 55155-2538, Phone: 651-201-6000 Setting a beetle trap or even applying the pesticide nematode on the grass are few treatment measures undertaken to control the European chafer beetle numbers. A more proactive approach aimed at preventing infestation this summer is more likely to provide a reasonable solution. Frustrated residents of Vancouver have become accustomed to the tell-tale signs of the European Chafer Beetle – dry and withered grass, brown patches defiling a once beautiful green lawn, unwelcome animals digging and ripping up the yard, and of course, the beetle larvae themselves present underneath the shriveled remains. Interrupting the life cycle of the Chafer beetle is the key to stopping your lawn from being ripped up. If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Turfgrass Science at Purdue University at kkalbaug@purdue.edu. By the 1940s it had been identified in the bustling nursery-growing area of Newark, New York. When these beetle species has infested your lawn, the grasses would appear spongy and even wilted. iStock Teenaged Girl Repairing Lawn Damaged By European Chafer Beetle Stock Photo - Download Image Now Download this Teenaged Girl Repairing Lawn Damaged By European Chafer Beetle photo now. How Can We Stop It? Irrigation during the fall helps turf survive root pruning by grubs. And search more of iStock's library of royalty-free stock images that features Adult photos available for quick and easy download.