The Blackheaded Pasture Cockchafer
Note Number: AG1364
Published: Sept. 1990
Updated: July 2008
This Agnote describes the life cycle and growth habits of the blackheaded pasture cockchafer in South-Eastern Australia. It also offers some control measures and management considerations.
Introduction
The blackheaded pasture cockchafer, Aphodius tasmaniae, is a native insect of South-Eastern Australia including Tasmania. In Victoria, blackheaded pasture cockchafers are mainly active in the Western District, the Southern Wimmera, the North-Central and Central districts, the North-East and Gippsland.
They appear to be pests in areas where the annual rainfall exceeds about 480mm. It has become an important pest of improved pastures, lawns, golf courses and parks.
Understanding the life-cycle and behaviour of the pest is necessary to control the pest and for planning pasture recovery.
Identification
The adult cockchafer beetles are dark brown to black in colour, have long fine legs and are approximately 10 to 11 mm long (Figure 1).
The cockchafer larvae (grubs) are white or greyish-white in colour, from and have soft bodies (Figure 2). The blackheaded cockchafer larvae tend to curl into a C-shape on exposure or when handled, hence they are often referred to as “curl” grubs. Their gut contents can often be seen through the external covering in the medium to larger larvae. Fully grown larvae are 15 to 20 mm long. The cockchafer larvae of all other pasture cockchafers in Victoria have reddish or yellow head capsules. See Agriculture Note AG1749: The redheaded pasture cockchafer.
Life-cycle and growth habits
The blackheaded pasture cockchafer has a one year life cycle (Figure 3). They emerge from the ground and fly during January to February dusk on calm, mild evenings. They are often attracted to lights at night during this time. They may also be noticeable when large numbers of them burrow into animal manure, often pulverising and burying it.
The females are seemingly attracted to sparse pastures caused by heavy grazing, hay cutting, etc. for egg laying. They burrow about 100 mm into the soil to lay their yellow oval-shaped eggs of about 1 mm in diameter in batches of two to three dozen. These hatch into small grey coloured larvae or “grubs” of 5 to 8 mm length after about 18 to 21 days. Their head capsules are pale at birth but turn to shiny dark brown to black after a few hours.
From July onwards, the grubs mature during feeding and turn progressively more creamy yellow as they accumulate fat reserves necessary for pupation. They usually continue to feed until they enter a non-active prepupal stage in late August before eventually pupating in their burrows in December. The white coloured pupae, approximately 10 mm in length emerge as beetles the following January - February to continue the cycle.
Nature of cockchafer damage
The cockchafer grubs feed on humus in the soil until the autumn rains soften the ground and promote pasture growth and they then tunnel to the surface for surface feeding from this stage onwards. They come out at night, often in response to a heavy dew or rain, to collect fresh pasture leaves which they drag into their tunnels for later consumption during the day.
The blackheaded cockchafer grubs feed on clovers, ryegrass and animal dung and have been known to consume young wheat crops.
Paddock indications of blackheaded cockchafer damage
Their presence may be noted by small mounds of soil around their tunnel entrances (Figure 4). The larvae, and the damage they cause, gradually spreads out until the areas of infestation and the improved pasture species can seemingly start to “disappear” very quickly. Broad-leaved or tap-rooted weeds and unimproved pasture species such as bent grass are left behind in the de-nuded areas (Figure 5).
In April-May, the very young cockchafers are found nearer the centre of the damaged area, while the more mature larvae are on the outside. In late winter, the fully fed ones stay behind while younger 
larvae continue to advance.
Maximum larval feeding occurs in May-June, when the rate of pasture growth is slowing down due to the cold weather. Bare patches usually become very noticeable at this time.
Blackheaded cockchafer may constitute a minor problem in years with good rains when pasture is more plentiful but, in a drier season, when feed is short, this loss of pasture will need to be addressed.
Soil types most affected
Blackheaded cockchafer infestations can occur in a wide range of soils varying form sandy loams to light clay loams. They do not thrive in either very sandy or very heavy clay soils and their numbers are greatly reduced in saturated soils. The colour of the soil has no affect on their presence.
Control and recovery techniques
Unlike the redheaded cockchafer, the blackheaded cockchafer can be controlled by insecticides as they are surface feeders. Maintaining pasture cover over summer may reduce infestions but there are currently no other control options available. Pasture renovation may be necessary in some years.
Chemical control
To determine if control is needed, use a square mouthed spade and dig several holes to about 200 mm depth about every 20 paces across suspect paddocks. Use the spade width to determine width and length of the hole. Treatment is likely to be needed if the average number of larvae per hole exceeds 5 to 6.
The grubs tend not to feed during dry warm/hot weather nor in cold or frosty conditions. Therefore apply the appropriate insecticide, registered for controlling the blackheaded cockchafer, just before rain or when a heavy dew is expected, but allow enough time (~4 hours) for the spray to dry to prevent it being washed off the foliage. If this is not practical then apply it immediately after rain, once dry enough to prevent spray run –off. Consult local spray retailers or representatives for current recommendations and follow safety guidelines at all times.
Applying insecticides in July or August when the grubs have become mature will rarely be successful, particularly if they grubs have visibly stopped feeding (See Figure 3). They may feed longer if the winter is mild and the soil is warmer or drier than normal.
Maintaining pasture cover in summer
Very short (2 – 3 cm) or open pastures are more attractive to egg-laying females of the blackheaded cockchafer whilst the opposite is the case for the redheaded cockchafer females. Using the correct grazing management to ensure a cover of about 5 cm height between manure clumps will also ensure a more dense pasture and increase its longevity to some extent. This may render this type of pasture less attractive for blackheaded cockchafer egg laying but has not been scientifically proven as such.
Re-sowing with soil disturbance
Re-sowing by using equipment which churns the top 3 – 5 cm of soil, such as a roterra, appears to greatly reduce further cockchafer damage. This activity either damages the very vulnerable grubs and/or exposes them to flocks of birds and other predators thereby reducing their effects post-sowing.
However the seedbed will be soft which may lead to pugging resulting in less dense pastures if the paddock is too wet when grazed. Consider also that re-sowing a large area of the farm at this late stage will increase the grazing pressure substantially on the remainder of the farm. This may necessitate the purchase of extra supplements to fill feed shortages.
Pasture recovery
In less severe infestations pastures may recover since their root systems are not attacked. If their regrowth is again attacked, then pasture recovery may be very slow and over-sowing or renovation may be required.
In severely infested paddocks, re-seeding will most likely be required, earlier rather than alter, to avoid germination too late into the cold period and to ensure some pasture growth in early to mid winter. However, ensure the grubs have been controlled (sprayed) to avoid new pastures being attacked again.
Determining which cockchafer is causing the damage
There are several ways to decide which cockchafer is present although, often both are present at the same time in the same paddock. Sometimes wet weather or cattle trampling can mask the indicators of which cockchafer is causing damage.
Table 1 indicates some ways to identify which of the two types of cockchafers are present.
Table 1. Differentiating between black and redheaded cockchafers
| Blackheaded Cockchafer | Redheaded Cockchafer |
| Head capsule is shiny brown to black within hours of hatching | Head capsule is red to reddish brown |
| Tunnel visible with dirt mounds around the entrance | No tunnels visible |
| Grubs move off quickly if handled or disturbed (approx. within a minute) | Tend to stay in “C” shape for longer period if handled (for several minutes) |
| Ryegrass and clover plants physically “disappear” from pasture | Ryegrass clumps appear dead but may be intermingled with green clumps |
| Pastures become denuded (except for weed) in ever increasing areas | Clumps may be turned over by flock of birds or “pulling” by grazing animals |
| Ground surface is covered with cockchafer castings, similar to worm castings around tunnel entrances | Ground may appear like talcum powder in dry weather with severe infestations |
Safety Precautions
When handling any chemicals, strictly follow precautions advised on the container labels. Regularly check registration status and safety and handling guidelines as these can vary yearly.
Acknowledgements
I acknowledge the contribution to this Agnote by the previous entomologists of the former Plant research Institute, Burnley and for photos from DPI centres at Knoxfield and Horsham.
This updated version was developed by Frank Mickan, Farm Services/Dairy, Ellinbank, Victoria. September 2008.
ISSN 1329-8062
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