European Chafer Beetle Control in Vancouver
The European Chafer Beetle is an invasive species that has become a serious pest problem in Vancouver, British Columbia properties. The chafer beetle’s larvae consume the roots of grass, seriously harming lawns and gardens, and worse, this bug’s presence attracts even more pests to your lawn! Find out how you can prevent and control chafer beetle infestation with the help of professionals from All Green Pest Control.
Encourages Wildlife Damage
Raccoons, crows, & other wildlife will rip apart lawns to feed on chafer beetles
Dangerous for B.C property & Parks
Chafer beetles & their larvae feed on the roots of trees, grass & plants of 300+ species
The BC Ministry of Agriculture is leading the emergency response for chafer beetles in your city, but it will not protect your property.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are working cooperatively with the City of Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, and Burnaby to treat and control the population of chafer beetles in public metro Vancouver land and parks.
Treatment on public lands will not protect your private property. Chafer beetles feed on the foliage and fruit of over 300 species and will destroy your gardens and landscape if left untreated.
What’s being done?
Here’s what your city is doing about chafer beetles
1. Surveillance
A surveillance program has been imposed by the CFIA around infested and non-infested areas across Southern BC. They use traps containing attractants that lure chafer beetles. Trapping helps monitor the activity of chafer beetles and their spread over time.
2. Regulated Areas
The CFIA prohibits the movement of rooted plants and soil out of regulated areas. This may help reduce the transfer of chafer beetles to new regions in Southern BC, providing critical invasion maintenance and prevention.
3. Acelepryn Treatment
Acelepryn is a larvicide being used for chafer beetle treatment in BC. The larvicide treatment targets chafer beetles and will not affect people, pets, birds, bees, butterflies, or other animals. The application is treated on turf, lawns, fields, and public areas.
Public Park Treatments
Acelepryn treatments are localized and can only help to control population within the area of application. Treatments to public parks will help to control widespread outbreaks but will not control chafer beetles and grubs on your property. To the right is a map of Vancouver parks that will be treated for chafer beetles. Private property outside of these marked areas will not directly benefit from Acelepryn treatments.
Book Your European Chafer Beetle Inspection
How to Tell if You Have a Chafer Beetle Infestation
How can I identify European chafer beetle infestation in my lawn?
Early signs of European chafer beetle infestation in your lawn
Grubs, which are chafer beetle larvae, feed on nutrients from grass roots. An increase in grub population is noticeable through grass root disease, marked by a yellow or brown discoloration in your grass. As the population of grubs gets larger, the likelihood of wildlife damage caused by birds and animals increases.
1. Discoloration
The appearance of brown patches in your lawn, especially in the fall, can be an indication of European chafer beetle infestation. Infested turf will commonly be wilted or dead. Grubs feed on grass roots and can be found inches from the surface. As grub activity starts in the spring, individual grass blades will appear yellow. This is the first sign of root disease.
2. Yellow Patches
Individual grass blade damage eventually turns into yellow patches. In warmer summer months, as the lawn gets drier, grub activity results in the appearance of patchy yellow discoloration of your lawn.
3. Lawn Damage
The small yellow patches soon develop into larger dead patches of grass, as grubs feed on all the available nutrients in the roots. These dead patches grow quickly in diameter and can span entire yards.
4. Peel-Back Test
On the edges of the most damaged parts of the lawn, peel back a 30cm x 30cm zone of grass right down to the roots. This may need to be done in a few areas to verify chafer beetle grubs are at fault.
Preventing Wildlife Damage
Animals forage for food, and grubs are a tasty treat for them. Local wildlife such as raccoons, birds, and skunks will rip apart lawns where there are signs of chafer beetle and grub activity. Once the wildlife damage is done, there’s no way to reactively treat for chafer beetles and get rid of them in the same season. Acelepryn, the product used by the BC government, takes time to do its magic – treatment is applied to prevent issues for the next season (3 to 6 months).
About Chafer Beetles
Chafer beetles in greater Vancouver can cause substantial damage to your lawn turf. The grubs feed on the roots of different kinds of plants, causing destruction to lawns and gardens. Their life cycle is only one year long, which means that their population rapidly increases.
Adult chafer beetles have tan or brown heads and six prominent legs, with a body that measures approximately 1.5 cm (0.5 inches) long. The larvae (also called grubs) have white C-shaped bodies and brown heads. They’re usually smaller than a dime.
January – April
During late winter and early spring, the grubs move closer to the roots and continue to grow. They continue to feed until they pupate – this is a transition to become adult beetles in May.
May – June
Adult beetles emerge from the soil and fly to nearby trees to mate and feed. After mating, females deposit eggs (up to 50 eggs per female) in the soil. These insects pupate in May. During this time, beetles cause the least damage to turf.
July – September
Between July to September, eggs start to hatch and the grubs (larvae) begin to feed on the roots of grass and plants. Damage to lawns can be seen with patches of dying brown grass and soil.
October – December
Chafer grubs continue to eat roots to grow, increasing in size and feeding until grubs are full-grown. Transitioning from fall to winter, the grubs move deeper into the soil. They are to to three feet below the surface and return to their protective cell due to colder temperatures.
All Green Pest Control’s Chafer Beetle Extermination Process
Our certified pest specialists are chafer beetle & grub experts
Step 1: Identify Area & Quote
We first need to determine the severity of damage done by chafer beetles on your property. Our customer service team will help to map out the size of your affected area and provide a custom treatment plan for your yard.
Step 2: Lawn Care & Acelepryn Application
Acelepryn is sprayed onto your affected yards, absorbed into the roots of your grass, and causes paralysis in grubs that chew at these roots. Spray applications prevent grub activity in the next hatching season.
Step 3: Regular Maintenance – Maintaining A Healthy Lawn
24 hours after treatment by our technicians, heavily water the treated areas as this will help to flush the Acelepryn deeper into the roots of your grass. Continue to monitor and control your lawn with proper care. Acelepryn applications are recommended on a yearly basis (performed in the spring) to keep a healthy lawn in an infested region.
Vancouver Chafer Beetles FAQs
Q: What is biological control for European chafer beetles?
Answer: Biological control for European chafer beetles involves using natural predators and parasites to control the population of the beetles and prevent infestations.
Q: How can I prevent European chafer beetle infestation in my lawn?
Answer: To prevent a European chafer beetle infestation and keep your yard chafer-resistant, keep your lawn well-watered, aerate your lawn regularly, and maintain a thick layer of thatch. Water twice weekly while adhering to watering limitations
Preventing chafer beetle infestation in your lawn include healthy lawn care practices such as regular mowing, fertilizing, and watering, as well as choosing chafer-resistant grass varieties. Keep your lawn from getting too short. Since chafer beetles like to lay their eggs on finely cropped lawns, raise mowing height to 6-9 centimeters (2.5-3 inches). Additionally, higher grass fosters deeper root growth and serves to prevent water loss from the soil surface. Leave clippings if possible.
Q: How often should I treat my lawn for European chafer beetles?
Answer: Treatment for European chafer beetles is typically done in the spring and fall, when the grubs are most active. Consult with a professional pest control company for the best treatment schedule.
Q: How long does it take to control a European chafer beetle infestation?
Answer: Controlling a European chafer beetle infestation can take two to three weeks, depending on the severity of the infestation.
Q: What kind of damage does the European Chafer Beetle cause?
Answer: The European Chafer Beetle can cause significant damage to turf and lawns. They feed on the roots of turf, causing the grass to die and creating patchy brown areas.
Q: In what months is the damage caused by the Chafer Beetle visible?
Answer: European Chafer Beetle damage is typically seen in the fall and early spring when the grubs are actively feeding on the roots of grass.
Q: How do I get rid of European Chafer Beetles?
Answer: Methods you can use to get rid of European Chafer Beetles include applying nematodes to the soil, keeping the soil moist, and using insecticides as a last resort.
Q: How do nematodes help control European Chafer Beetles?
Answer: Nematodes are microscopic worms that infect and kill the grubs. They can be applied to the soil to control chafer beetles, thereby reducing the population of these beetles.
Q: How can I keep the soil moist for nematodes?
Answer: You should water the lawn before and after applying nematodes into the soil. This will ensure that they are able to move through the soil and reach the grubs.
Q: Can I use insecticides in Vancouver to control European chafer beetles?
Answer: Try non-chemical methods first. Insecticides should only be used as a last resort because they can have negative effects on the environment and beneficial insects.
Q: Do European chafer beetles attract other pests?
Answer: Yes, the presence of European chafer beetles can attract other pests such as raccoons and skunks. These animals will cause turf damage by digging up your lawn in search of the grubs.
Call Chafer Beetle Pest Control in Vancouver – Residential and Commercial
If your home or business isn’t covered by your city’s chafer beetle treatment, you need to be proactive in protecting your property. Contact All Green Pest Control, a team of chafer beetle experts highly trusted in the Greater Vancouver area. We’ll provide a free quote for your specific pest control needs. Call us at 604-990-0100 today.