Burnaby lawns are being invaded by the chafer beetle yet again, and the city plans to bring in reinforcements to battle the problem pest.
The chafer grubs feed on grass and are considered a tasty treat by birds, raccoons and skunks, with animals tearing up lawns to get to these subterranean snacks.
City council approved the 2015 European chafer management plan at Monday night’s council meeting.
The plan includes the offer of two packages of nematodes for each resident to be pre-ordered and picked up by mid-July. Each package contains 50 million nematodes – microscopic roundworms – which can treat up to 750 square feet.
“I will be welcoming nematodes into my yard this year,” Mayor Corrigan said. “My lawn definitely needs reinforcements.”
The packages come at a cost to residents, though it is subsidized.
For those worried about messing with the natural balance of local landscapes, Coun. Colleen Jordan pointed out nematodes are not an invasive species and are already part of the ecosystem.
“Nematodes are a part of the soil already,” she said. “But sometimes they need a little boost.”
Coun. Nick Volkow – questioned why residents would only be able to order two packages each.
“We only have enough for about a thousand people to pick up,” Leon Gous, the city’s director of engineering, explained. “Based on past experience, that should be reasonable.”
But Volkow said he doubted it would meet the needs of all residents and suggested the city coordinate with local retailers to provide information about where to purchase nematodes on the city’s website.
“I don’t know that a thousand will be enough,” he said. “The community around here has just been devastated by chafer beetles. I see it on our public lands, I see it on brand new medians that we just put in last year, they’re just devastated.”
Nematodes are available at local gardening stores, Canadian Tire and other retailers in Burnaby, Corrigan said.
The treatment time for nematodes is in late July, when chafer beetles are in the larval stage.
The plan includes watering restriction exemptions for residents who use the packages.
Other aspects of the plan cover the recording and verification of public and private lands impacted by the chafer beetle, as well as education of staff and residents on the beetle, landscaping options and treatment options.
The city will advertise the locations and dates when nematode packages can be pre-purchased in local papers early next month.
