Japanese and European Chafer Beetle Control

The Japanese beetle is an invasive insect found widespread in eastern Canada and the US. In 2017, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) detected it in the False Creek area of Vancouver.

This pest is especially harmful because both the adults and the immature (grub) phases feed on plants causing significant damage when in high numbers.

Turf is the most favoured host of the larval stage, but the adult beetles feed on the upper leaf surface of over 250 ornamental and agricultural plants. While feeding, the beetles release a strong aggregation pheromone that attracts additional beetles to a potential food source.

Urgent control of this insect is strongly recommended. If it becomes established in our area, severe losses of ornamentals, fruits, and turf grasses will be the norm. The good news is that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has a registered product that can control this pest very effectively, and has the added bonus of controlling the highly destructive European Chafer at the same time.

The European Chafer beetle is a voracious and devastating pest that invades lawns. The damage starts when the chafer grubs feed on lawn roots. Later on, the damage intensifies when predatory animals such as raccoons, skunks, and crows tear up lawns looking to feed on these grubs.

Grubs hatch around mid-July and immediately begin feeding on grass roots. By the end of October, these larvae are over one inch in length and are almost unstoppable. They feed for the duration of the winter and then pupate in early spring. The adult beetles emerge in late May, fly to nearby deciduous trees where they mate and subsequently deposit their eggs in nearby lawns where the cycle repeats.

One single treatment a year to all turf areas is recommended.