White Grubs on Buglady Consulting

White Grubs

Need help with identifying your insect? Click here Lucid Key to Insects

Identifying characteristics- Adults are beetles that can be Japanese beetles, June bugs, or other lot of other beetles. Many of these adults are nocturnal. Less often seen is the larval stage. They feed underground on the roots of many ornamental plants and grasses. When feeding on grass roots it looks as if the grass has been under watered. This is because the grubs have consumed the roots that absorb water. People tend to irrigate more but the grass does not improve. Another symptom is the grass pulls up easily and then digging grubs can be seen.

Biology-

Control Methods

Water Management-

Most white grub species require moist soil for their eggs to hatch. Young larvae are also very susceptible to desiccation. If you turf can handle it, do not water in July and early-August, when young larva and eggs are present.

Another option is to irrigate and fertilize moderately August through September and again in May when the grubs are feeding. This keep the grass out growing grub damage.

Biological control-

GrubStake-HM™ Beneficial nematodes

Milky Diseases
Bacteria that targets Japanese beetle grubs. Be sure you grubs are Japanese beetles

Head of grub close up

Need guide to Grubs?

Destructive Turf Insects