Adult
chafers eat the leaves and flowers of many deciduous trees,
shrubs and other plants, but rarely cause any serious damage. However,
their fat, white grubs (reaching 40-45 mm long when full grown) live in
the soil and feed on plant roots, especially those of grasses and
cereals, and are occasional pests in pastures, nurseries, gardens, and
in grassy amenity areas like golf-courses. The injury to grassland and
lawns results in poorly growing patches that quickly turn brown in dry
weather; the grubs can be found immediately below the surface, usually
lying in a characteristic comma-like position. The grubs sometimes
attack vegetables and other garden plants, e.g. lettuce, rasberry,
strawberry and young ornamental trees. Injury to the roots and rootstock
causes small saplings and tender tap-rooted plants like lettuce, to wilt
suddenly or to show stunted growth and a tendancy to shed leaves
prematurely. Plants growing in rows are usually attacked in succession
as the grubs move along from one plant to the next. Chafer grubs feed
below ground for 3-4 years before changing into adult beetles.
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