Garden Chafer

Natural Habitat

Found in gardens, meadows, and pastures, often near woodland edges across Europe and parts of Asia.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on the leaves, flowers, and developing fruit of a wide range of plants and deciduous trees; larvae (grubs) eat the roots of various grasses.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are active during the day, particularly in June and July, often seen swarming over sunny lawns. They have a one-year life cycle where eggs are laid in the soil and larvae overwinter underground.

Risks & Benefits

They are considered a significant lawn and agricultural pest as the larvae can damage turf and crop roots, while adults can damage ornamental plants; they serve as a food source for birds and small mammals.

Identified on: 6/8/2026