Early Instar White Grub Damage

Early instar White Grub damage is becoming increasingly evident in lawns across Canada and the USA this time of the year. White Grubs are the larvae life stage of several destructive turfgrass insects including the European Chafer, May/June Beetle, and the Japanese Beetle. During the larvae life stage the white grubs aggrssively feed on the roots of the turfgrass plant causing major damage to lawns. The Adult beetles (European Chafer, May/June Beetle, and Japanese Beetle) laid their eggs early in the summer and these eggs have hatched, thus the early instar activity of these white grubs.

White Grub Life Cycle

Major damage can also become evident in lawns from animals, birds and rodents that are searching and digging for these white grubs as food. Often times, the damage created from this digging is much more severe than the grub feeding damage itself.

European Chafer Larvae Raster Pattern

Japanese Beetle Larvae Raster Pattern