VerdaKai
GU
← Plant Brain
Pest

White grub

Cyclocephala / Phyllophaga / Ataenius spp.

Quick reference

Pest class
insect
Host breadth
specialist
Seasonal pattern
Larvae feed June-October; visible damage late summer/fall
Treatment hint
Preventive: chlorantraniliprole or imidacloprid in late spring before egg hatch. Curative: trichlorfon for severe active infestations. Distinguish from mole crickets — completely different treatment.
Source
uf_ifas_v1

ID features

C-shaped white larvae 10-25mm with brown heads; found by pulling back damaged turf. Adult June beetles or chafers swarm at lights.

Damage pattern

Turf rolls back like loose carpet; root system gone; secondary damage from raccoons/birds digging. Damage looks like drought but turf doesn't recover with water.

Hosts

No hosts wired up yet.

Treatments