The rose chafer feeds on a wide variety of plants, creating large irregular holes. Favorite foods include the flowers of roses, peonys and dahlias. It also likes the fruit of grapes, raspberries and strawberries. Leaves of many trees and shrubs are also in its diet range. To confirm that large irregular feeding holes are caused by this pest, and not by other insects, you will need to find the adult beetle present.

An adult rose chafer is a small, slender beetle, up to 1/2-inch long, pale green to tan in color with reddish brown legs. The adult beetle usually appears in May or June in Minnesota. Because the rose chafer needs sandy soil to lay eggs, plants on sandy sites are most likely to be attacked. It feeds on plant material for 3 to 4 weeks, lays eggs in the soil, and then dies soon afterwards. The eggs hatch in 1 to 2 weeks, and the small white grubs feed on the roots of grasses and weeds. Winter is spent as larvae in the soil.

Handpicking is an excellent control method for small numbers of rose chafers.

Building a temporary cheesecloth barrier, around and slightly higher than the host plants, may offer some control. Rose chafers seldom fly over the barrier and onto the plants, even though the barrier is open at the top. Take the barrier down after the late spring feeding phase of the adult beetle is over.

If large numbers of rose chafers are present on non-blooming plants treat with carbaryl (Sevin) or acephate (Orthene). Always read and follow label directions when using any pesticide. Be sure it is labeled for the plants you intend to treat. Since these insecticides are toxic to bees, do not use them on or near blooming plants.

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