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Grubs
Grubs
Grubs are the larvae of beetles. White grubs are the larvae of several species of scarab beetles. They are whitish or grayish, have brownish heads and brownish or blackish hind parts and are usually found in a curled position when disturbed. They hatch from eggs laid in the ground by the female beetles. In Tennessee, most species of white grubs spend about 10 months in the ground; some remain in the soil two years. In mild weather, they live 1 to 3 inches below the surface of the lawn; in winter, they go deeper into the soil. They burrow around the roots of the grass, then feed on them about an inch below the surface of the soil. Moles, skunks and birds feed on the grubs and may tear up the sod in searching for them.
Read more about armyworms and other lawn pest in UT Publication 1158, "Lawn Insects: How To Control Them", found here.
Management Strategies
Management Strategies
Some grub-controlling insecticides are preventative and are intended for application prior to having a large grub population. Other products are curative and are for treating areas already having a grub population. Preventative grub control products rely on insecticides that will kill young grubs. They’re referred to as preventative because they’re intended to be applied to the lawn area before next year’s grub crop hatches this year. The curative products are more effective when applied to younger grubs that haven’t burrowed too deeply into the ground. As a rule, younger insects are easier to kill than mature insects, and it’s easier to get the insecticide to the grubs the closer they are to the soil surface.
For chemical control recommendations, consult the Insect and Plant Disease Control Manual, UT Extension Publication 1690, found here. Please contact your local Extension office for specific pesticide recommendations.
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