Full approval granted for chemical control of Chafer Grubs and Leatherjackets

[<<] [>>] by Beatrice McGlen
26th March (Technical)

Chafer Grubs and Leatherjackets are insect larvae which live in soil and can cause serious damage to grass and turf, both directly by feeding on the roots of grass and also by damage caused by secondary pests such as birds which dig through the turf to feed on the grubs. The chemical insecticide Acelepryn has been granted full approval for use by ground maintenance staff to manage Chafer Grubs and Leatherjackets.

Acelepryn is only effective on larvae in their early stages of development and therefore must be used at certain times of the year, just before or at peak adult flight when eggs have just been laid. This is June-August for Chafer Grubs (depending on species) and September-October for Leatherjackets.

Acelepryn's producer has developed an online tool to help you identify which pests you have and answers to some common questions can be found at Q&A for Acelepryn use in lawn care (syngentaturf.co.uk)

It is important to note that Acelepryn will not have an effect on large grubs which are already causing damage but is a preventative measure to prevent further damage in future years.