Leather Jackets Chafer Grubs

Get the low down on:
Leather Jackets
&
Chafer Grubs
Leather Jackets
What are they?
Again a larvae, this time from Crane fly (AKA Daddy Long Legs) laying their eggs just beneath the surface
in September. The larvae then spend the winter chewing roots and grass stems, causing widespread
damage. They are a brownish grey, legless creature, quite like a maggot and can grow up to 4 cm. The last
few years have been particularly troublesome and we have seen lawns almost completely destroyed by this
pest.
Where are they found?
These seam happy in any soil type, even the most heavy clay. Although new turf is particularly susceptible.
What are the signs to look out for?
As above, birds will peck more than usual. Plus you will see patches of lawn disappearing and turning to
mud. In these patches you will see loads of air holes, a bit like when there is lots of worm activity after rain.
What can be done?
There is no effective preventative action, so we always look out for them, but so must you. Call us if you
suspect anything or have lots of daddy long legs in your garden through the summer. We have an
insecticide that will kill the larvae, and then we can look at options to repair the damage depending on the
extent.
What the grub looks like:
What the damage looks like:
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Chafer Grubs
What are they?
These grubs are the larvae of the chafer beetle, which lay their eggs in late may. The hatched grubs will
feed on the lawnʼs roots, but significant damage will not be seen until autumn. They grow to around 10-15
mm and have white fleshy bodies with a brown head and three pairs of legs. The curl up into a C shape.
Where are they usually found?
Generally they prefer sandy soil as it is easier for them to move around through the root zone of the lawn,
eating the roots as they go, hence the damage they cause.
What are the signs to look out for?
Often the first sign is more birds pecking at the lawn, particularly Rooks, Starlings and Magpies. They love to
feed off the grubs, but in doing so actually cause more damage as they peck and dig up the turf. Later brown
patches will start to appear where the grubs have eaten through the roots causing the grass to die off.
What can be done?
We have an approved pesticide designed for amenity use that is sprayed onto the lawn. This successfully
disrupts the life cycle of the grub thereby eradicating it. More than one application will be required. Then,
depending on how badly damaged the lawn is, patches may need re-seeding or turfing. However, if we catch
it early enough, following our good feeding program will enable the grass to recover on its own.
What the grub looks like:
What the damage looks like:
If you think you may have Chafer Grubs or Leather Jackets, please call us now, we
will visit to confirm the problem and arrange a program to save your lawn.
Free Phone: 0800 043 5053
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Your secret ingredient for a
beautiful lawn