Summer chafer (lawn grub)

Symptoms

Patches of lawn that wilt and yellow despite watering, then come away in your hand because the roots have been chewed off by fat, C-shaped white grubs in the soil. Damage builds over more than one year because this chafer's grubs feed for two to three years. Light-brown adults swarm around shrubs and lawns at dusk around midsummer. Birds and mammals often dig the turf to feed on the grubs.

Common questions

How do I recognise Summer chafer (lawn grub)?

Patches of lawn that wilt and yellow despite watering, then come away in your hand because the roots have been chewed off by fat, C-shaped white grubs in the soil. Damage builds over more than one year because this chafer's grubs feed for two to three years.

Do I have to report Summer chafer (lawn grub)?

No. Summer chafer (lawn grub) is not a notifiable organism, so there is nothing to report to an authority. Treat it as a normal garden problem.

How is Summer chafer (lawn grub) treated?

Mainly with biological and cultural measures — removing affected material, changing the conditions that favour it, and treating with agents approved in your country. The exact steps and their timing depend on the plant, the season and where you live: Dr. Phyto works them out in a free diagnosis.