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The slow start to the season with cooler night temperatures has meant the annual chafer grub damage spree has not hit with a bang but rather come in dribs & drabs; but we are braced for more as the weather warms up.
Anyone who has suffered a chafer infestation will not only know the isolated damage caused by the emerging larvae eating the roots of the grass, but also the widespread carnage inflicted by crows, foxes and badgers as they rip up the turf to look for the juicy morsels.
What are Chafer Grubs?
- They are young maggot-like larvae which then hatch into chafer beetles.
- Chafer beetles are commonly one of two types: the Garden Chafer and Cockchafer.
- The Garden Chafer has an annual lifecycle
- The Cockchafer is larger and more destructive because it lives in the soil for three years, eating roots, before it hatches.
- They live near the soil surface and will only burrow deeper once autumn temperatures start to drop.
Control:
There are two main methods of control open to professionals in the domestic and amenity sectors.
A reliable and trusted granular insecticide product – spread at 30 kg/ha. One application in late spring lasts a whole year and kills the larvae through ingestion of the affected grass roots and also absorption by the body through the soil.
Nematodes (Nemasys G & Nemasys J)
A natural non-pesticide bio-control remedy for Chafer grubs (& leatherjackets). Nematodes are tiny living parasitic roundworms that burrow into the larvae and kill it from within. Their numbers are staggering with a normal pack, to treat approx. 500m2, containing upwards of 250 million nematodes. This is particular favourite amongst paddock owner due to its organic nature.
Both of these products need a large water volume when applied and consistently moist soil to continue movement through the soil profile. Both achieve excellent results but treatment should be considered on an annual basis to ensure newly laid and 3 year larvae lifecycles are stopped.
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