Brown chafer

The brown chafer (Serica brunnea) is a beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae, order Coleoptera. This nocturnal insect is recognized as a significant pest in nurseries, forestry, and various horticultural settings, where it impacts the development of young plants during its larval stage.

The biology of this species is characterized by a multi-year development cycle. Eggs are laid in the soil, and the resulting larvae, often referred to as white grubs, spend up to three years living underground. They feed primarily on decaying organic matter and, more significantly, on the living roots of grasses, seedlings, and perennials.

Damage caused by this pest is often insidious because the grubs operate below the soil surface. By consuming the root systems, they deprive plants of essential water and nutrients. In agricultural fields or home gardens, this leads to chlorosis, stunted growth, and in severe infestations, the sudden death of young plants or turf patches.

Adult beetles are nocturnal and are occasionally attracted to lights. While the adults feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs, the economic threshold for damage by adults is generally lower than that of the larvae, which are responsible for the most substantial destruction in nurseries and production fields.

Integrated pest management strategies are crucial for controlling the brown chafer. Cultural practices, such as soil cultivation to expose larvae to natural predators like birds, are highly effective. For chemical control, systemic or soil-applied insecticides should be used carefully according to local regulations to ensure long-term suppression of the grub population.

• Mechanical soil turning in early spring or autumn.
• Application of entomopathogenic nematodes.
• Monitoring adult flight with light traps.
• Selection of resistant plant varieties in highly infested zones.