Yellowheaded cockchafer

Sericesthis spp.

Larvae are “C” shaped, have six legs and a yellow head capsule. When fully grown they are 25 mm long. Their body is white grey when feeding and turns to a creamy-yellow colour as they mature. The adults are chunky light brown and approximately 11 mm long and 8 mm wide. The lifecycle of these species are not well understood but mating flights occur during November, and they are thought to have one generation per year.

Damage: Crops sown into long term pasture paddocks are vulnerable to attack. Moisture stimulates the larvae to move closer to the soil surface in autumn where they feed on the roots of newly emerging seedlings. Higher seeding rates can reduce levels of damage.

Plant Protection Products