Grub darn it: Here's why lawns are more torn up than usual across Metro Vancouver

Metro Vancouver residents may have noticed lawns across the region are more of a chewed-up eyesore than usual this fall.

As in past years, the raccoons, skunks and birds are digging for tasty grubs, in this case mainly the invasive European chafer beetle. While not a new phenomenon, it does seem worse this year.

That’s likely because of a beetle boom this summer and last, says Douglas Justice, associate director of UBC Botanical Gardens.

Justice said chafer beetles fly in June and look for places to lay eggs at night where there’s light, so under a full moon or a place near street lamps. They also look for the right substrate, particularly mowed grass, where larvae can feed on supple roots.

The grubs have a strong scent so when they are closer to the surface, it’s a festive fall buffet