White grubs can devastate your lawn.
White grubs (European chafer, May and June beetles) are small, plump, white larvae which viciously chew on grassroots. They live below the soil surface and actually chew off the roots of the grass. Since the grassroots have been destroyed, the lawn will appear yellow in patches, just like the lawn is dying out. The damage looks quite similar to symptoms of dryness; in fact, many Weed Man customers mistakenly assume that the lawn needs only water to restore a lush, green appearance. Animals like skunks and raccoons digging up the lawn and birds feeding on grubs, leaving pencil-sized holes, and offten, damaged turf will roll back like a carpet.
The lifecycle of White Grubs
To control an insect population we must understand its habits and life cycle. Some grubs complete their life cycle in one year. Others require three years to complete their life cycle. White grubs survive the winter as larvae in the soil. In the early spring, the grubs begin to feed again. Later in the spring and summer, they enter a resting stage (pupae) then hatch into adult beetles. Weed Man customers beware! Lots of beetles can mean a grub problem later. (The beetles do not damage lawns.) Beetles lay their eggs which hatch into grub larvae. The larvae feed voraciously, which results in the yellowing of your lawn.
Serious damage can occur in the spring, summer and fall. If the problem is ignored the patches will get larger. The damaged areas will then fill in with weeds or crabgrass. The best time to treat grubs is when they are very young before you are faced with severe damage. Why wait?
How to control White Grubs
Your Weed Man is a trained specialist. He can recognize the difference between a simple drought problem and a serious white grub infestation. Your Weed Man uses materials that are applied carefully and precisely at the correct time to be the most effective in controlling this serious lawn pest. Call your local Weed Man and he will inspect your property free of charge! If you do have white grubs, he can protect your investment in your property, by promptly treating the problem. If your yellow patches are due to lack of water, he can advise you on correct watering procedures.