Copyright 2010-2011 Updated December 9, 2011 Ultralawn, Inc. 1055 East 260th Street Euclid, Ohio  44132 (216) 731-7756 (440) 951-3738 About • Lawn Care • Trees/Shrubs • Pest Barrier • Questions • Contact Lawn Pests   We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions Grubs The number one insect problem that is responsible for killing turf grass in the northeast is the damage created by the white grub. White grub damage can be devastating to home lawns and other turf grass areas. When Does The Damage Occur? Damage typically shows up in September and is evident through October. In the spring as soil temperatures warm, grubs will resume feeding. Damage caused by white grubs is the result of the grubs eating the root system of the turf. Symptoms of white grub damage begin with the turf turning a tan or brown color, followed by the death of the turf grass stand. Dead turf can be easily pulled up or rolled back, often exposing the grubs. What Do Grubs Come From? There are many beetles that produce white grubs, five of the most likely to create lawn damage are the larvae of the Japanese beetle, oriental beetle, northern masked chafer, European chafer, and the Asiatic garden beetle. To properly control, scout, and monitor for white grubs it is necessary to understand the life cycles of these pests. All of the above mentioned beetles have one generation per year. Generally the life cycles of these beetles are very similar. The adult beetles usually emerge from late June through July depending on the species. After emergence the beetles mate and lay eggs throughout July and August.  Newly hatched white grubs may be seen in late July through early August. White grubs are C shaped and undergo three stages of development. Grubs start feeding on the root systems of grass immediately after hatching. By October many of the grubs are in the third stage of development. It is in this third stage that root consumption is at its highest level and damage rapidly occurs. As cold weather and winter approaches grubs will move downward into the soil in their larval form. As spring approaches and soil temperatures rise, grubs will resurface to the root zone and resume eating. In late May through June grubs stop eating and begin the transformation into adult beetles. At this point the life cycle repeats. What To Look For? To determine if a grub problem is imminent you can utilize a variety of techniques that may indicate a potential for white grub infestations. The easiest way to monitor is by looking for the adult beetles. Begin looking for adults in late June through early August. Often adult beetles can be seen flying at dusk or seen on trees and shrubs. For example, the adult Japanese beetle can be found eating the foliage on many species of trees and shrubs. The oriental beetle can often be found in swimming pool skimmers or resting on plants and shrubs. If adults are present, it is a good indication that the females may lay their eggs in a nearby lawn. Also, in mid-September once white grubs have begun feeding to the turf grass you will be able to lift it up almost like a carpet.  Control Of White Grubs: Control for white grubs can be either curative or preventative. Curative control can be accomplished with a product such as Dylox. There are disadvantage of a curative method of control. One disadvantage would be that if the homeowner neglects to monitor the lawn, grubs will go unnoticed and damage may not be caught in time resulting in severe turf grass loss. Another disadvantage to curative control is that the insecticide used for control often has to be applied at higher rates to control mature grubs. If choosing a curative method, a strategy that should be used to improve pesticide performance would be to water before and after the insecticide is applied with at least 2" of water. Grubs will move to the surface with a pre-watering and the product moves to the grub with a post watering. Preventative control can be accomplished with an application of Merit. This product is extremely effective in controlling white grubs. Proper timing should be prior to egg hatch. Recommendation for timing of applications with this product is mid-April through mid-July. Preventative applications should be watered in with at least 1/2" of water. The advantages of preventative applications are that you greatly reduce the possibility of grub damage to the lawn. Also, preventative products tend to be more environmentally friendly than curative applications. The use of sex pheromone traps or beetle bags in gardens to attract adult beetles is not recommended. Pheromone traps will attract beetles from distances of up to several miles. Severe grub damage is often found in close proximity to where pheromone traps have been placed.