They are no bigger than a dime but they are transforming the landscape in Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam and Port Moody. Are they bulldozers run amok?
No - they are chafer beetles.
Aided by crows and raccoons who enjoy the tiny chafer beetle larvae and will stop at nothing to get these tasty bites, grass fields, lawns and even the Port Coquitlam cemetery where Terry Fox is buried have been devastated.
Without warning, it seems, grassy areas have been torn up this winter, but the truth is we should have known the European transplant would come here after chewing its way through other cities.
The best way to defend against them is to repair your lawn, make it strong and apply nematodes although there are also pesticides that will do the job.
Replacing lawn with a native ground cover is also an idea, but either way, dealing with chafer beetles will cost us money, time and energy.
