Grubs 101 for Indianapolis Lawns
How to Get Rid of Grubs
Grubs are the larvae of various beetles, which include Japanese beetles and “June bugs.” These will often appear white, with dark red-heads and black mandibles. They’re soft and shaped like the letter “C,” with legs near their heads.
The Life Cycle of Grubs
A grub’s lifecycle consists of four stages. These are Egg, Larvae, Pupa, and Adult.
Egg
Beetles burrow just below the soil and lay their eggs between June and August.
Larvae
Just a few weeks after the eggs have been laid; the hungry grub worm will emerge. These newly hatched grubs feed on organic matter in the soil. Mainly grassroots. Grubs stay only a few inches under the soil but will burrow deeper just before the winter months. When the ground starts to thaw, in the spring, the grub will move closer to the surface once again.
Pupa
Once the larvae have fully developed and completed their feeding stage, the Pupa stage begins. This is when the grub worm develops a casing around itself and changes into an adult beetle. This process takes about three weeks.
Adult
After the transformation that occurs during the Pupa stage is finished, the adult beetle will emerge from the soil. Adult beetles will begin feeding on foliage and other organic matter, then mate; completing the life cycle.
The Problem with Grubs
Grubs may seem like harmless creatures; they can cause serious problems. Unfortunately, your lawn’s root system is the grub worm’s main food source. Grubs can ruin your beautiful lawn. It is important to know that everyone has grubs. The problem comes when your lawn has too many grubs. When the amount of grubs is too great in a concentrated area, they can kill large sections of your lawn.
Grub Prevention
A preventative application can be applied to control the number of grubs in your lawn. This application works by applying an insecticide with a long-lasting residual effect that will kill grubs when they try to eat the grassroots. Check out Lawn Pride’s guaranteed Grub Control Program.
Grub Curative
If grub damage has already occurred; you can stop any further damage with a curative insecticide application. However, the effectiveness of a curative insecticide application is much lower if the grubs have already burrowed deeper in the ground for the winter season.
Identifying Grub Damage
Unless you want to dig up your entire yard, grubs can be relatively tough to find. However, there are warning signs to help you know if your lawn has been or is at risk of being invaded by these hungry pests.
Beetles
Other Critters
Dead Grass
The Carpet-Roll Method
Need additional help? The experts at Lawn Pride are here to help you get the answers you need. Call us at 317-251-6800.