European Chafer Beetle

The European Chafer Beetle is an invasive insect pest. Its larvae feed on the roots of grasses, causing serious damage to lawns. 

Adult Chafer Beetles are tan or brown, measuring approximately 1.5 centimetres (0.5 inches) long. The larvae (or grubs) have brown heads and white, C-shaped bodies, and they’re smaller than a dime.

Check out the Chafer Beetle Brochure (PDF) for more information.

How to Know if You Have an Infestation

Chafer Beetle infestation is often most visible when raccoons, birds and other wildlife, eager to eat the grubs, begin digging up grasses and damaging turf.

Between January and March you can monitor your grass for grubs by cutting back a section of the turf and digging around in the dirt. If there are more than five grubs per section, you may want to consider Chafer Beetle control.

Best Management Practices

  1. Monitoring
  2. Control
  3. Prevention
  4. Lawn Care Calendar
  5. Chafer Life Cycle

To find out if Chafer control is needed:

  • Cut three sides of a 30-centimetre-by-30-centimetre square (about the length of a ruler) of grass to a depth of 5 centimetres (about 2 inches).
  • Fold back the square patch and count the grubs in the soil by digging around.
  • Cut five more squares of sod/turf in different areas of your lawn, count the grubs in each square.
  • If more than 5 grubs per square are found, then Chafer control may be necessary.