May Bug & Cock chaffer grub
By Telme8
Vale of Glamorgan,
Wales 
My cousin who gave me some years ago my Black Iris, came the year before last to ask me if I could spare her a few bulbs as she had lost all hers. On meeting up with her, lately she tells me that they have not survived either,a few came up last yr and then nothing showing this yr. but has discovered big bugs in her soil she has dub up over 90 of these and they are devouring all the roots of her plants.On inspection I have discovered they are the Chaffer Bug, the grub of the May Bug, can any one tell me how she can erradicate these from her garden. She is absolutely devastated as she is the daughter of the Gardener I have talked about in the family, so it is a very old well kept garden over many years.
On plant
Chaffer Bug, Grub of the May Bug.
2 Nov, 2008
Answers
This is the horror that the badgers come in for. They dig down and wreck my lawn each year and it really upsets me, so I can understand your friend being devastated. I haven't yet found a control for them - I wish I had!
2 Nov, 2008
Living in the UK you do have a very effective weapon against them - NEMATODES!! I can not get them here in Greece, but you can order them on-line. Follow a course of twice a year application. Expensive but effective and safe. Here it is either FURADAN - very poisonous or disaster!!
Allso Bayer has come out with a spray I think it is called Advantage - not sure, really. Look for it on the Bayer UK page for lawn maintenance.
I have read up on it extensively as I do have a huge problem ... Whenever you treat the ground - treat ALL the ground including all planters.
My sincere sympathies to you all.
PS I will try the chickens. I really whish we had hedgehogs and badgers and foxes, but they have all been killed long time ago .....and chemicals like Furadan do not help, but cause disaster and havoc
3 Nov, 2008
Here is a link to the site with a link for Nematodes
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/cockchaf.htm
whish I could get some!!
BTW - THe chickens, won't they eat my plants as well, besides the grubs, snails, worms and corn? I really would like to have some 2 or 3 as well as ducklings..
3 Nov, 2008
Further biological controls
and on-line order form
http://www.ladybirdplantcare.co.uk/nematodes.htm
3 Nov, 2008
Chickens are about the best deterent option for the organic cold weather gardener. Nematodes need to be above a minimum temperature to retain their appetite and effectiveness. I believe this temperature is around 10C which will make it next to useless in the winter garden or unheated greenhouse.
The liquid killers generally available work out to be expensive. Both in terms of how much is needed to protect your plants and of course being a liquid, it will be eventually flushed out by your watering program.
The only truly effective killer which lasts for years is not generally available, though I have written about it in the 'Triffids and other unwelcome pests' section of my gardening forums.
3 Nov, 2008
right nematode application is July to September for some and others Spring & Fall
3 Nov, 2008
any chance for a direct link to this article of yours for a newbie like me??? And what about our ornamental plants and chicken?
3 Nov, 2008
Hi Isabella,
Don't worry about the chickens eating your plants, the grubs are already doing that and breeding like mad.
3 or 4 chickens in the garden will accustomise
and will leave a lot of your plants alone. Don't forget they will be looking in the ground for the grubs, making holes etc.
3 Nov, 2008
Doctorbob1 THANK YOU!!!
Best news ever!! Not to mention fresh eggs - that is surly the best revenge on those grubs ever!! Last time I dug over my compost heap I think I picked out over a 100 at least~
3 Nov, 2008
Hi Telme8,
Cockchaffer grubs, very hard to control.
This may sound daft, but could she keep chicken in the whole of the garden for a year. The chicken will clean the ground. The cockchaffer lives deep in the ground.
2 Nov, 2008