Brown Chafer Serica brunnea
The Brown Chafer (also known as Brown Garden Chafer) has a rusty brown colour indeed. The head is black with striking eyes bulging out. Reaching some 11 mm, it is much smaller than the May Chafer is and almost hairless. The grub lives underground for two years and eats roots as well, mainly those of grasses. The species rarely is harmful in agriculture or your garden, for it usuallt appears in quite small numbers. Besides the same nematod use against Garden Chafers will destroy many Brown ones as well. The species prefers dry, sandy soil. Where the May Chafer is a very slow walker, the Brown Chafer can really run and is very fast on the ground.
