Fighting grubs

Correction:
The "Fighting Grubs" article that appeared in the May issue of Lawn & Landscape mistakenly included crabgrass control options rather than grub control options. Some active ingredients that Weed Man finds effective for preventive control of grubs are: halofenozide, imidacloprid, chlorantraniliprole, thiamethoxam and chlothianidin. Some active ingredients that Weed Man finds effective for curative control includes: trichlorfon and carbaryl.

One of the most destructible pest problems that arise during spring and fall are grubs.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is estimated that grubs cause more than $200 million in damage a year to lawns.

In order to properly treat grub-infested lawns and ensure they stay healthy, it is crucial that you understand how to identify grubs, their lifespan and the symptoms of grub damage, along with the various treatment options that are available.

Identification. Grubs, which are generally found on the East Coast and in the Midwest, are small, plump white larvae that live below the soil surface and chew on the roots of the grass.

They are the larval stage of a group of beetles, including the European chafer, June beetle, Japanese beetle, Asiatic garden beetle and the oriental beetle.

While grubs are typically cream-colored and have six legs with an amber-colored head, the size of grubs will vary depending on the species and its age.

Lifespan. While the typical lifespan of the beetles is about a year, it is not uncommon to come across grubs that have a lifespan of approximately three years.

Grubs are most destructive late summer, but mating between beetles occurs in late June. As the grub larvae sit about 3 inches from the soil surface, they feed off the roots of the grass.