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Chafer grubs

Practical biological control, IPM and environmental pest-management knowledge.

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Chafer grubs

Overview

Chafer beetle larvae feed on roots, causing wilting and patchy collapse.

Garden chafer (Phyllopertha horticola)
Garden chafer (Phyllopertha horticola). The adult stage of one of the most common chafer beetles responsible for chafer grub damage in UK lawns, turf and gardens. Photograph © Hans Hillewaert, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Crops

  • Turf
  • Soft fruit plantings
Chafer grub
Chafer grub. The characteristic white, C-shaped larva of a chafer beetle feeding on plant roots beneath the soil surface. This is the damaging stage responsible for root loss in lawns, turf and many ornamental and edible plants. Photograph by Сарапулов, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Notes

Often confused with vine weevil larvae.

Further guidance

  • Chafer Grubs — Establishment Risk Foundations

System Links

  • Pest Pressure Hub
  • Monitoring & Thresholds Hub
  • Biocontrol Strategy Hub
  • Environmental Drivers Hub
  • Ipm System Architecture

Related solution pages

Use this page alongside

Commonly affected crops

Related BioWiki pages

Additional IPM notes

Chafer grubs are root-feeding larvae and are usually most damaging where plants are grown in soil, turf, nursery beds or outdoor containers.

Risk is often linked to field history. Areas with previous grass, weedy margins or poor rotation history may carry higher populations.

Useful monitoring includes checking weak plants, lifting suspect root zones and looking for curved white grubs in the soil.

Control is usually strongest when based on prevention, field history and good timing rather than waiting until plants collapse.