As an adult, it emerges, mates, and then lays the eggs for a new generation. More than 300 species of plants have been recorded as hosts for these b… The damage appears as patches of thin or dead turf, or even bare soil. Part of this difference may occur because the European chafer spends a longer portion of the summer feeding on turf. Learn how to beat the chafer beetle vancouver infestation. Eggs are laid two to four inches below the soil surface and hatch in early August. The European Chafer Beetle is an invasive insect pest. Contact the MDA via Arrest the Pest if you suspect an infestation of European chafer in Minnesota. It also shows up in areas with no previous history of white grub damage, including low maintenance areas. The mature beetles do not sting or bite and have quite a short life span. However, adult European chafers do not eat at all and so are not the problem defoliators that Japanese beetles are. When the grubs are ready to pupate in late spring to early summer, the grubs will again descend lower in the soil. 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. As it’s name suggests, the European chafer beetle is native to Europe. Doug Richmond, Turfgrass Entomologist and Extension Specialist If you notice grub damage this time of year, take a closer look and try to find the larvae in the soil. 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. However, adult European chafers do not eat at all and so are not the problem defoliators that Japanese beetles are. The damage is most noticeable between fall and early spring when the grubs are full grown. 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 … Insecticides containing the active ingredients imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniliprole are very effective against grubs when applied in June to mid-July. The European Chafer Beetle originated in continental Europe but can now be found in temperate climates across North America. Irrigation during the fall helps turf survive root pruning by grubs. Up close: Turf heavily infested with grubs can be easily rolled back when most of the roots have been consumed. European Chafer Damage The larvae of European Chafer (white grubs) start feeding on turf roots in April and then again in September. European chafer was reported for the first time in Wisconsin in Door County during July 2013. Recommended products and application timings for white grub control can be found here: http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-259.pdf. This insect is a slightly different beast than our more familiar white grub species. The European chafer is a very serious grub pest of turf and can cause more turf damage than the Japanese beetle. Vancouver Chafer beetles can cause extensive damage to lawn turf due to the larvae feeding on the roots of the grass. Drier weather can quickly result in the appearance of brown, dying patches in turf or other crops. European chafers may also cause damage to a variety of field, forage and grain crops (see Figure 3). They are similar to the “June bugs” commonly found in Minnesota in early summer but are generally a bit smaller and lighter in color. Dead patches may appear if a heavy grub infestation is combined with prolonged dry weather. 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. These eggs hatching into hungry grubs that start doing damage later in summer. Unlike the Japanese beetle, however, the European chafer is not a problem in daily irrigated turf. The larvae are white with brown heads, C-shaped, and can reach up to 2.5 centimeters in length. 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. Skunks and raccoons may turn over heavily infested turf in search of grubs to eat. Here in Surrey, the Chafer Beetle has become an increasingly serious pest and many homeowners are frustrated by brown, torn apart lawns. 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. It has been reported in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Ohio, Michigan, Delaware and southern Ontario. Rhizotrogus majalis). Even then, repeated application may be necessary and damage is not likely to be reversed at this late time. Most European chafer beetles have one generation per year, but a small proportion of the population may require two years to complete development. 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. Cleaning the turfs in your law regularly is one way to prevent them from getting damaged. 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. 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 … 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. European Chafer Beetle Adult European Chafer beetles are tan or brown beetles resembling June beetles but measure only about 1.5cm in length. If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Turfgrass Science at Purdue University at kkalbaug@purdue.edu. Adult European chafers are tan or brown beetles resembling June beetles and measure approximately 1.5cm in length. The best control is achieved using a preventive approach with applications of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniliprole applied June through mid-July. The grubs, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm, are soft, white, and C-shaped with tan-coloured heads and six prominent legs. The problem is the grubs (their larvae) which hide in the soil just beneath the surface of your lawn. But because they are so substantial, they make an ideal source of protein for birds and mammals. Irrigated lawns have shown resistance to damage in the Midwest and on the East Coast. 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. European chafer adults feed very little on foliage and are not a problem. Dead patches in the fall may become bare soil by April. The European Chafer Beetle is a common, invasive pest in BC. The European Chafer Beetles have invaded Vancouver. The dead patches have been growing larger each week, and are expected to peak in size at the end of April. 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). Grubs overwinter just below frozen soil and return to the surface as soon as the ground thaws. Its larvae feed on the roots of grasses, causing serious damage to lawns. European chafer grubs have been eating turf roots since late March when the snow melted. When these beetle species has infested your lawn, the grasses would appear spongy and even wilted. They measure approximately 1.5 cm long and are brown or tan in color. Lawn damage as the wildlife starts ripping and pulling moss, grass and thatch out of the lawn. Skunks and raccoons may start digging up your lawn to eat the grubs. Figure 3. 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. Toll Free: 800-967-2474 The European Chafer beetle is a grub that feeds on the roots of plants. If you notice grub damage this time of year, take a closer look and try to find the larvae in the soil. The European Chafer Beetle is an introduced species that wreaks havoc on lawns. 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. Grubs feed all winter long and pupate in May. The larvae (or grubs) have brown heads and white, C-shaped bodies, and they’re smaller than a dime. Saint Paul, MN 55155-2538, Phone: 651-201-6000 Email: drichmond@purdue.edu, © 2020 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by Turfgrass Science at Purdue University. 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. other crops. Frequent irrigation during the last two weeks of June makes the turf much less attractive to the adult females for egglaying. 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. What is the European Chafer Beetle? Example of chafer beetle and crow damage on a Vancouver lawn . For this reason, late summer and early autumn are ideal for treating active grubs, before they burrow deeper when temperatures drop. 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. Product #: gm1074167566 $ 33.00 iStock In stock Damage thresholds have been estimated at five to 10 grubs per square foot for low maintenance turf. 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! Adult Chafer Beetles are tan or brown, measuring approximately 1.5 centimetres (0.5 inches) long. 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. European chafer adults are about a half-inch long and tannish in color. Beetle varieties such as Japanese beetle and European chafer lay their eggs in the yards in early to mid-summer. 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 beetles have been in North America since 1940, mostly confined to the East Coast and southern Ontario. European chafers may also cause damage to a variety of field, forage and grain crops (see Figure 3). Adult European chafer beetles are tan in color and resemble a small June beetle. 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 European chafer eggs hatch in mid-July. The larvae, or grubs, have C-shaped bodies and brown heads and can reach up to 1 inch (25 mm) long, when mature. By the 1940s it had been identified in the bustling nursery-growing area of Newark, New York. The European chafer Rhizotrogus majalis Razoumowsky is apparently at the root of several reports of large scale and severe damage to turfgrass this spring. 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. A more proactive approach aimed at preventing infestation this summer is more likely to provide a reasonable solution. A lawn infested by European Chafer Beetles may seem wilted. Adult beetles are tan to brown in colour and reach approximately 1.5 centimeters in length. The grubs may be distinguished from other white grubs through characteristics of the posterior of the abdomen, but an experienced entomologist may be needed. Minnesota had its first detection of the European chafer beetle in south Minneapolis located in Hennepin County in 2020. They also may feed on the roots of crops, which could be costly to the agriculture industry. Scientific name: Amphimallon majalis Razoumowsky (Syn. The European chafer beetle originates from Western and Central Europe. Visit the University of Minnesota website for information about diagnosing and managing problems with lawns and turf. Damaged turf will start to turn brown and thin out. 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. These control strategies can help mitigate damage to turfgrass. 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. 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