European chafer beetle of the scarab beetle family was a native of Continental Europe, though later it became an invasive species occupying temperate regions of North America.
Size: 13 – 14 mm
Color: These medium-sized beetles have areddish-brown or tan body with light yellow setae covering their pronotum and thorax.
Other Characteristic Features: Their abdominal tip protrudes beyond the elytra, which in turn possesses longitudinal grooves.
They are white with a yellowish-brown head. These C-shaped larvae have small spines arranged in two rows going outwards to the abdominal tip. When full-grown, they are about 20 – 23 mm long, and the entire larval stage goes through three instars.
The grubs go deep down the earth to form cells, where they would remain during the pupal phase that lasts for about two weeks. The pupa grows to about 16 mm.
The oval-shaped eggs are shiny and milky white that eventually turns to a dull gray upon maturation. The female European Chafer beetle lays approximately 20 to 40 eggs during her lifespan in the moist soil that hatch in about two weeks.
| Adult lifespan | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Duration of larval stage | 1 year (though some could take up to 2 years to complete the larval stage) |
| Distribution | Native: Whole of Europe Invasive: Different parts of North America including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Delaware, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania |
| Habitat | Temperate grasslands, recol3ntial lawns, and gardens |
| Common Predators | Birds and toads |
| Seasons active from | June – August |
| Host Plants | Turf and grass |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Roots of grasses Adults: Mostly grasses |
The larvae feed on the roots of turf and grasses, causing more damage than the adults since they decrease the plant’s longevity to a great extent. The grubs also indirectly damage the plants since they seem to be the food source for raccoons, foxes, and crows who dig right into the ground in search of them.
When these beetle species has infested your lawn, the grasses would appear spongy and even wilted. Cleaning the turfs in your law regularly is one way to prevent them from getting damaged. 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.
Image Source: teleonomix.com, bcinvasives.ca, a4.pbase.com, im3.ezgif.com, richmond.ca
European chafer beetle of the scarab beetle family was a native of Continental Europe, though later it became an invasive species occupying temperate regions of North America.
Size: 13 – 14 mm
Color: These medium-sized beetles have areddish-brown or tan body with light yellow setae covering their pronotum and thorax.
Other Characteristic Features: Their abdominal tip protrudes beyond the elytra, which in turn possesses longitudinal grooves.
They are white with a yellowish-brown head. These C-shaped larvae have small spines arranged in two rows going outwards to the abdominal tip. When full-grown, they are about 20 – 23 mm long, and the entire larval stage goes through three instars.
The grubs go deep down the earth to form cells, where they would remain during the pupal phase that lasts for about two weeks. The pupa grows to about 16 mm.
The oval-shaped eggs are shiny and milky white that eventually turns to a dull gray upon maturation. The female European Chafer beetle lays approximately 20 to 40 eggs during her lifespan in the moist soil that hatch in about two weeks.
| Adult lifespan | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Duration of larval stage | 1 year (though some could take up to 2 years to complete the larval stage) |
| Distribution | Native: Whole of Europe Invasive: Different parts of North America including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Delaware, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania |
| Habitat | Temperate grasslands, recol3ntial lawns, and gardens |
| Common Predators | Birds and toads |
| Seasons active from | June – August |
| Host Plants | Turf and grass |
| Diet of larvae and adults | Larvae: Roots of grasses Adults: Mostly grasses |
The larvae feed on the roots of turf and grasses, causing more damage than the adults since they decrease the plant’s longevity to a great extent. The grubs also indirectly damage the plants since they seem to be the food source for raccoons, foxes, and crows who dig right into the ground in search of them.
When these beetle species has infested your lawn, the grasses would appear spongy and even wilted. Cleaning the turfs in your law regularly is one way to prevent them from getting damaged. 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.
Image Source: teleonomix.com, bcinvasives.ca, a4.pbase.com, im3.ezgif.com, richmond.ca
