They have a one-year life cycle and the beetle itself is most active from June through late August. Adults are better known as “June Beetles” and are about a ½ inch long and brown. Their flight period, in which males find females to mate with, beginning the cycle again, can last between 1-2 weeks. The female can lay 30-40 eggs and will usually avoid heavily watered sod. Adults can be found around lights at night in early summedr and are harmless.

Habitat:
Grubworms prefer feeding on turf grass, especially St. Augustine and Bermuda grass, eating the roots and other underground plant parts. Feeding causes lawns to turn yellow and die. Grubworms also feed on the roots of weeds, vegetable and ornamental plants. The most severe injury to plants is caused by large grubworms in their third stage feeding on roots in the fall and spring.

They are often encountered when tilling garden soil or by sifting through soil underneath damaged turfgrass. Severely damaged grass may feel spongy underfoot and can be “rolled up” like a carpet because there are no roots left to anchor the turf. Because of this there is no way for the grass to extract water, which cause it to yellow and die. Another sign of grubworm infestation is the presence of digging holes from raccoons, skunks, birds, and rodents that like to eat the juicy grubs.

Control:
Grubworms can be controlled using pesticides in a timely and economical manner if proper controls are correctly applied at the right time. To prevent serious damage, examine all turf in April and again in August. Do not wait for brown or yellow patches to appear in the turf before inspecting the soil. However, it is best to verify that grubs are actually present before applying pesticides. Use a shovel to cut a square-foot flap of sod and roll it back. Examine the soil and roots in the top 3 or 4 inches. Repeat this process in several locations.

If an average of five or more grubs are found per square foot, a pesticide application is justified. The condition of the turf, its value, and its uses (for example, whether it is a home lawn or a golf green), and the amount of damage done by animals searching for the grubs may affect your decision on whether it’s worth applying a pesticide.

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