Garden Pests:

Grabbing Grubs

from their

Graves

Edge Pest Control

1550 Larimer St #501

Denver, CO 80202

(303) 935-3343

Gardens attract different kinds of insects that feed on foliage, nectar and fruits. While

some choose to inhabit the surface of the garden and destroy from the outside, a type of

insect does a comparative destructive work from grass-root level – literally.

Grass-Killers

Grubs are white, plump, six-legged larvae mostly from species of June beetle

(Phyllophaga spp.) or Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica). Grubs live underground feeding

on roots of grasses and shrubs, and are hard to spot until the surrounding grass areas

turn brown.

Life Cycle

Grubs dig in through the soil while

eating off from roots. One sign of grub

infestation in gardens are dead grass

during dry spells during September or

early October. When the spring comes,

these almost reach the ground’s surface

where these complete feeding and

proceed to pupa stage.

The adults or beetles emerge the

following year from May to August.

Soon after, females deposit as much as

40 to 60 eggs in small batches digging 2

to 3 inches deep especially in moist soil.

In wet summers, the eggs hatch in as

fast as two weeks. The newly emerged

larvae will then feed until the cold forces

them into hibernation. These species

are capable of propagating one

generation every year.

Grub Control

It is easy to manually spot, pick

and eliminate grubs but that can be

tiring. Unfortunately, not everyone uses

grass patches that can be sliced square

cut and lifted to weed out the grubs

underneath. In these cases, a complete

check-up and infestation control from

professional pest control companies are

necessary.

There is no much hope in completely eradicating Japanese beetles and June bugs in

lawns but these are vulnerable to pesticides like any other insects. The grub pesticide is

more effective especially on April to May or August to mid-September when grubs are

actively feeding near the soil surface. This can prevent the adult ones from laying eggs

with pesticides as well but do not usually last after rain showers, which needs

reapplication.

Grub infestation is a serious garden problem but with prompt action and professional

maintenance can help control infestation and have a lovelier garden.

RESOURCES:

http://www.edgepestcontrol.com

http://cleveland.ces.ncsu.edu/2007/07/white-grubs-japanese-beetles-and-june-bugs/

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/white-grubs.aspx

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/get-rid-of-grub-

worms.htm