European Chafer

The grubs have soft white C shaped bodies with brown heads and six prominent, spiny legs. When first hatched they are quite small about 1/8 inch long; they can reach a length of over 1 inch at maturity.

European Chafers emerge from turf toward the end of June and gather in large numbers on trees near a large area of turf, this activity occurs about the time when tea roses =are in full bloom. Very little feeding takes place, but flights at dusk allow the beetles to mate.

The female Chafers return to the surrounding grass areas and deposit their eggs in the soil below. After about 2 weeks the eggs hatch into small grubs which feed near the surface. By end September most grubs are near mature size and begin to damage seriously the turf. Cool weather does not deter them and they will remain near the surface if there is adequate moisture until frost begins to drive them deeper into the ground. The grubs prefer to dig below the frost, but can withstand freezing if they cannot penetrate into the subsoil.

In spring the grubs migrate to the surface, even before the snow melts. At this time feeding can cause serious damage as they consume shallow roots and crowns.

Mid May the grubs stop feeding and begin to transform into the pupal stage, remaining in this state until they emerge as adult Chafers in June, completing the 12 month life cycle.

Grub infestations attract Raccoons and Skunks in spring and fall, causing serious turf damage.

European Chafer Beetles feed very little on foliage, and control at this stage is not practical. To be effective control measures must be aimed at the larval, or grub, stage.