European chafer larvae feed on turf roots during which months?

• A. May and early June, September and October
• B. January and February
• C. March and April
• D. July and August

Answer: (A)

European chafer larvae feed when soil temperatures and moisture allow them to actively root-feed in the turf. After eggs hatch in late spring, the grubs are most actively feeding through May into early June, damaging roots as they enlarge. They then become less active during the hottest part of summer, and as cooler fall conditions arrive, they resume feeding again in September and October before overwintering. This combination—spring feeding in May and early June and fall feeding in September and October—best fits the observed activity window for these larvae, while winter months are too cold for active feeding and other spring or midsummer periods don’t capture the main feeding windows.