How To Get Rid of Chafer Grubs

If you’re dealing with chafer grubs, you might be wondering whether they are actually that bad, and how to get rid of them. In this helpful guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about chafer grubs, including why you might want to get rid of them and how.

Chafer grubs can be a menace to any garden or prized lawn owner. The grubs feed on the roots of grass, which, if there are high numbers of them, can cause large amounts of damage to the lawn. This damage is usually signified by straw-coloured areas of grass, which is where the grass has become weak due to damaged roots. Another tell-tale sign is if birds or animals, such as badgers and foxes, are trying to rip up or peck at areas of turf looking for the protein-filled chafer grubs.

Chafer grubs don’t feed on the visible parts of plants, but they can still cause serious damage below the surface. These beetle larvae live in the soil and feed primarily on the roots of grasses and other plants. As they chew through the roots, the affected plants lose their ability to absorb water and nutrients, leading to yellowing, wilting, and eventual dieback. In lawns and turf, heavy infestations can cause entire patches of grass to lift away easily from the soil, revealing the white, C-shaped grubs underneath. So, while chafer grubs don’t eat leaves or stems directly, their root-feeding habits can devastate lawns and garden plants alike.

For the reasons above, it’s a priority for the chafer grubs to be controlled so that they cannot cause huge amounts of damage. We recommend the biological control of using nematodes, which is currently the only legally approved method.

Nematodes are safe, microscopic worms that burrow through the soil, enter the chafer grub larvae and stop them from feeding within just three days of infection. Larvae will then die in around 10-14 days. The nematodes can multiply in the soil and then go searching for more hosts, so the pest control continues naturally. These nematodes are specific to the pest concerned, so are safe for the user, children, pets and other wildlife in the area.

One of the most common products used when getting rid of chafer grubs is Nemasys G.

Nemasys G is an organic product that naturally suppresses chafer grub larvae in grass and turf. When chafer grubs are present, the rough, scruffy turf is typically ripped up by birds and other animals in their quest for fresh grubs.

• It is important to aerate the affected areas before treatment in order to provide channels for quick water movement to where the grubs are situated.
• Nematodes can be kept in the fridge for up to three weeks. They are applied when mixed with water and sprayed onto and around affected areas.
• It is recommended to cut the grass/turf before application of the nematodes to ensure that they can easily access the soil.
• Apply when the soil is moist, preferably during or after rainfall, to allow nematodes to move freely.
• Application should be made either in the early morning or late afternoon/evening in order to avoid direct sunlight, as UV rays kill nematodes.
• Make sure that you are applying the nematodes when the chafer grubs are closest to the surface, which is around August/September. After this point, the chafer grubs move further down in the soil, making them more difficult to target.
  

Another option available for getting rid of chafer grubs is by using a Chafer Beetle Trap. These traps use replaceable pheromone lures to attract the adult beetles. This will reduce the number of adult beetles around to lay their eggs, which can be significant as each female adult can lay up to 50 eggs. These traps should be applied around the third week of May, which is when the adult beetles are most active.

If you’re reading about how to get rid of chafer grubs, then you likely know that they cause a problem for your lawn or pasture. If you implement the advice above, then you should be back to nice, healthy grassland in no time.

If you have any further questions about how to get rid of chafer grubs, feel free to contact us on 0330 165 5568, or for other grassland issues, explore our alternative biological pest control options