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| Unknown Scarab adult, USDA photo | Japanese Beetle, Clemson Univ. photo |
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| Unknown Scarab adult, USDA photo | Japanese Beetle, Clemson Univ. photo |
These all belong to the Scarab family of insects. They come from either a variety of
species of usually brown “June beetles” or from Japanese beetles all of which
prefer to lay eggs during June and July in moist sunny turf. By this time of year they are
usually overwintering larvae. They will burrow up towards the surface for one last feeding
upon grass roots, then pupate in late May and emerge as adults in June.
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| White grubs under turf. | Single white grub. |
Although the Adults can certainly damage some tender flowers, the large comma shaped grubs with legs, a brown head capsule, and dirty abdomens are the real culprits devastating lawns, usually the best cared for, greenest lawns. Often damaged turf can be rolled back like a carpet (See above left.). Skunks, birds, etc. which dig through lawns searching for grubs to eat,cause secondary damage relating to grubs.
If the grubs are from Japanese beetles Milky Spore is an excellent choice for long term control. It is available from St. Gabriel Laboratories http://www.milkyspore.com/ It is composed of spores of Bacillus popilliae, a bacterium. The spores are relatively cheap, safe and very long lasting (20 years. However, they take months to begin working and are no help against most other white grubs.
If you are unsure which species of grub you have or want faster control, weeks, try beneficial nematodes, Steinernema feltiae sold as Lawn & Garden SCANMASK, or better still Heterorhabditis bacteriophora sold as HETEROMASK. They are more expensive per coverage area, last only a year or two, and are somewhat more difficult to apply. Seehttp://www.biologicco.com/products/products.htm to purchase either of these.