Eradicate lawn pests before they destroy your lawn.
Lawn Pest Damage
Chaffer grubs and leather jackets are common lawn pests that can cause significant damage to your grass by feeding on the roots. Here's a brief overview of each and how to manage them:
Chaffer Grubs:
What are they? Chaffer grubs are the larvae of chaffer beetles (e.g., cockchafers or garden chafers). They are C-shaped, creamy-white larvae with brown heads and feed on grassroots.
Signs of damage: Yellowing or dead patches of grass that can be lifted easily because the roots have been eaten.
Lifecycle: Eggs are laid in the soil in summer, and the grubs feed on roots until they pupate and emerge as adult beetles the following year.
Leather Jackets:
What are they? Leather jackets are the larvae of crane flies (daddy longlegs). They are grayish-brown, legless, and cylindrical, and they also feed on grassroots.
Signs of damage: Similar to chaffer grubs, you may see yellow or brown patches of grass that can be rolled back like a carpet
Lifecycle: Eggs are laid in late summer, and the larvae feed through autumn and spring before pupating and emerging as adult crane flies.
How to Control Them
Encourage natural predators
Birds, hedgehogs, and ground beetles feed on these pests. Encourage wildlife in your garden by providing habitats like log piles or bird feeders.
Biological control:
Use nematodes (microscopic worms) that target the larvae. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora works well for chaffer grubs, and Steinernema feltiae for leather jackets. Apply nematodes in late summer or early autumn when the soil is moist and warm.
Improve lawn health:
Aerate and scarify your lawn to improve drainage and reduce thatch, which can harbor pests.
Fertilise and water your lawn properly to help it recover from damage.
Need help with either chaffer grubs or leather jackets, we can help to eradicate these from your lawn.
