At the sight of grubs, the alarm bells instinctively ring in many a hobby gardener - after all, these are beetle larvae that can kill plants by eating away at their roots. However, not all! The grubs of the rose chafer, for example, should be welcomed for several reasons!

Rose beetle grubs should not be fought!

Rose chafer grubs are beneficial

Yes, grubs can be a problem in the garden. Because some species feed on the roots of living plants - especially those of grass or vegetables such as kohlrabi, potatoes or lettuce. This is of course very annoying, even if the damage is usually manageable. However, it is important to know that not all grubs are the same - especially with regard to the potential for damage.

In general, all larvae from the superfamily of scarab beetles are called grubs. Among the scarab beetle species that are relevant in our latitudes are about

  • cockchafer
  • June beetle
  • rose chafer
  • rhino beetle
  • garden beetle

The species that can actually be classified as pests because of their root feeding are cockchafers, June beetles and garden chafers. Rhinoceros beetle and rose chafer grubs, on the other hand, feed exclusively on dead plant material. They therefore do not cause any damage to ornamental and useful plants, but rather can bring great benefits: they prefer to stay on compost heaps, where they find ideal living and supply conditions. By eating the garden waste, they accelerate the decomposition process and produce valuable permanent humus together with bacteria and microorganisms.

Rose beetles are under protection

If only not to refuse the gift of free humus production, it is not exactly wise to fight the rose chafer grubs. It's even illegal. Because rose beetles and, by the way, rhinoceros beetles are under special protection under the Federal Nature Conservation Act. That is, it is forbidden to harm, capture or kill them - in all their forms of development. In the event of an infringement, there is even a risk of high fines.

Identifying features of rose chafer grubs

It is therefore useful to be able to identify the rose chafer grub and distinguish it from other grubs. A practical thing first: Since only the useful species feed on dead plant material and the harmful only on living, the discovery of grubs on the compost is an immediate all-clear. The physical appearance of rose chafer grubs is characterized by a rather small size of about 3 centimeters with a thickened abdomen. The front pairs of legs are very short and interestingly they move on their backs.

Category:

Animals in the garden