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Invasive lawn pests lead to increase in raccoon activity in Mission

European chafer beetle ‘very prevalent’ in Mission core and Cedar Valley
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The European chafer beetle has spread throughout Mission in the past several years and has led to an increase in calls about raccoons, the city says. /City of Mission Photo

A “serious lawn pest” is attracting raccoons to yards throughout Mission.

The European chafer beetle is an invasive species that has spread throughout Mission in the past several years and the city has recently experienced an increase in calls regarding raccoons as a result.

According to a City of Mission news release, beetles feed on grass roots but most damage occurs from raccoons and skunks digging to feed on the grubs/larvae — the beetle’s immature form.

“Many residents are unaware that when raccoons are digging up their lawn, the underlying issue is the European chafer beetle. The grubs are present from August to April and are also preyed upon by skunks and crows,” Mission environmental coordinator Kyle D’Appolonia told the Mission Record.

The city advised residents to maintain a healthy lawn and consider alternative landscapes including chafer-beetle-resistant seed mixes or the use of beneficial nematodes — living microscopic worms that attack the chafer grubs — to combat the beetle.

“Chafer beetles are less likely to lay eggs in a healthy lawn so fertilizing, aerating, and keeping grass longer is likely the best preventative approach,” D’Appolonia said.

The beetle was first discovered in the Lower Mainland in 2001 in New Westminster. Since then, it was confirmed at a site in Abbotsford in December 2018 and several locations in Mission in 2019.

“Based on personal observations, it is very prevalent in the Mission Core and Cedar Valley but has likely spread to other neighbourhoods by natural dispersion and the movement of soils,” D’Appolonia said.

According to the city, adult European chafer beetles are tan or brown and measure 1.5 cm in length.

The grubs measure approximately 2 to 2.5 cm in length, are white and C-shaped with tan coloured heads and six prominent legs.

Chafer beetle infestation is often most visible from October through March when raccoons, birds and other wildlife begin to dig up the turf to eat the grubs. From July to September, lawns can feel spongy when walked on due to the grubs feeding below.

Alternative landscapes are an option for homeowners to combat the beetle, the city says.

“I live near the Leisure Centre and am in the process of transitioning portions of my lawn into flowering and vegetable gardens which are more beneficial for pollinators,” D’Appolonia said.

He also said the costs to combat the beetle vary by method.

He says a chafer beetle-resistant lawn blend is available but more expensive than conventional grass seed. The microscopic worms are a cheaper option, but D’Appolonia says they require watering during times when water restrictions are often in effect.

Insecticides are another option but he says it’s least preferred because they’re toxic to non-target species.

Artificial turf is also becoming more commonplace because of the chafer beetle.

“We would encourage residents to consider other options as [artificial turf] releases microplastics into the environment, is impermeable (increasing stormwater runoff), absorbs heat, and restricts access for beneficial soil-dwelling organisms,” D’Appolonia said.

Those seeking more information can contact environment@mission.ca.

READ MORE: Climate change drives Hatzic’s challenges as project repairs damage from 2021 floods

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Dillon White

About the Author: Dillon White

I joined the Mission Record in November of 2022 after moving to B.C. from Nova Scotia earlier in the year.
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