Battling white grubs

Since the late 1950s, the European chafer, commonly known as the white grub, has been ravaging the lawns of southern Quebec. It might interest you to know that the lifecycle of this flying insect spreads over an entire year. The time to act is during their reproductive period, from mid-June to end of July. In fact, these insects lay their eggs in your grass and when they develop into larvae two to three weeks later, they begin feeding off the roots of your grass. It is in this larval phase that this species does the most damage. If left untreated, the larvae continue to develop between July and the start of the frost, bury themselves in the earth until April of the following year and resurface in June. Once they transform into flying insects, they return and lay their eggs in your lawn. And so the cycle continues.

Since these laws were enacted, we have been providing herbicide treatments to consumers. It is important to note, however, that some municipalities are pesticide-free, banning all application of them. We therefore suggest that you check with your local administrative authorities beforehand.

Nematodes and cultural practices

A fail-safe method for combating white grubs has yet to be found. For instance, many opt for the application of nematodes—alive microorganisms used to attack white grubs—but this product is highly susceptible to variations of light and temperature. Because of this fragility, its effectiveness is highly variable.

Others choose to seed clover. But in addition to not being perfect, this option attracts bees. The best treatment consists of a combination of proactive cultural practices and the timely application of a proven insecticide. To begin, you need to maintain your lawn daily so that it becomes dense and healthy. Spreading fertilizer, watering frequently and mowing regularly will give you the best results. To this end, it is recommended to keep your lawn at a height of three inches to discourage the laying of eggs in your yard. It is also strongly recommended that you turn off your lights at night, because the light attracts flying insects.

Our solution

Although there is no miracle or infallible cure against this pest, the best solution resides in the application of the above cultural practices in conjunction with a proven insecticide.

To apply this insecticide, we recommend you call on our experts to treat your lawn between mid-June and the end of July. This granular product is absorbed by the roots fed on by the larvae, which then die before they can damage your lawn. Remember, however, that this product must be applied preventively, as once the signs of infestation appear, it’s already too late. When applied in a timely manner, the rate of effectiveness of this treatment is estimated at over 95%.

Click here to view the lifecycle of the white grub.