Cockchafer larvae are among the garden pests. However, since there are also beneficial insects among the scarab beetle larvae, you should identify the larvae before you initiate countermeasures.
Maikäfer (Melolontha)
The genus Melolontha belongs to the family of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). In Central Europe, the cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) is the most common species. The cockchafer (Melonlontha hippocastani) occurs in some regions of Germany. The rare Melonlontha pectoralis is only spotted every now and then in south-west Germany.
Engerling
The term Engerling is derived from Middle or Old High German and means “little worm”, “made”. Today the term grub is used for larvae of the scarab beetle, which, in addition to the may beetle, are well-known beetles such as
- Junikäfer (Amphimallon solstitiale)
- garden beetle (Phyllopertha horticola),
- Common rose chafer (Cetonia aurata) or
- Nashornkäfer (Oryctes nasicornis)
belong.
Determine the cockchafer larva
Look
- becomes five to seven centimeters long
- C-shaped curved body
- front and rear (continuously) the same thickness
- whitish to slightly yellowish
- brown head with powerful jaws (mandibles), clearly visible
- three pairs of legs at the head end
- strong, long legs with clearly visible joint creases
habitat
- live underground
nutrition
- first humus
- Living weed and grass roots (yellowed areas in the lawn)
- later also from tree roots
Risk of confusion with harmful grubs
In addition to the larvae of cockchafers, the grubs of June and garden beetles are also among the pests. It is essential to distinguish them from those of the rose beetle and rhinoceros beetle, since the latter are protected beneficial insects.
A difference between the larvae of the pests is hardly visible to the layperson. Only the size can serve as an indication, because the grubs of June and garden chafers are smaller:
- June beetle: up to three centimeters, larger specimens are possible
- Garden chafer: up to two centimeters
Risk of confusion with useful grubs
A confusion with the larvae of rose beetles and rhinoceros beetles is actually not possible, since these grubs feed on dead plants and wood residues, i.e. they inhabit a completely different habitat than the cockchafer larvae. These grubs can be found, for example, in the compost heap.
There are also characteristics that are useful for determining:
- significantly thicker rear than front
- Rhinoceros beetle larva: up to ten centimeters long
- Rose beetle larva: if disturbed, crawls away lying on its back
