Beware – Grub Alert!
Throughout the Southeastern PA area, now’s the time of year that grubs become very active. What’s worse–without knowing how to detect a grub problem, you may not be aware until after the damage is done.
Grubs are the immature life stage of beetles. There are several types of beetles that are typical indicators of possible grub infestation.
Common Types of Grubs
The Japanese Beetle has always been one of concern in our area. It is a very recognizable beetle species because of its unique coloration and its publicity. The popular “Bag-A-Bug” beetle traps were developed to catch them. Recently, Japanese beetles are not as severe a problem as they used to be. They have been targeted for years by the “Green Industry,” and now there numbers are declining.
The Masked Chafer and the European Chafer are two species of beetles to be concerned about. These are rarely seen during the day, but are quite active at night. They are a dull brown and are not as destructive to trees and shrubs like the Japanese beetle. Their grubs, however, are just as destructive to the turf around a home.
Junes Beetles are also destructive as grubs primarily due to the fact that these grubs are very large and can live in the soil for up to two years. In addition, they are far more difficult to control in their second year.,/p>
The Importance of Early Grub Treatment
All of these grubs cause the same kind of damage. They feed on the turf grass roots, which causes yellowing throughout the lawn. Because the root systems are damaged, these yellow patches can be easily picked up, just like you would pick up a carpet. This damage is permanent, and in many cases, the area will have to be overseeded to repair it.
Preventative insecticides applied earlier in the season have proven very valuable in preventing grub damage. Lawns that have never had these types of applications could be in danger of infestation. As with many outdoor pests, prevention is always the best approach, and grubs are no exception. If you suspect an infestation or begin to see yellow spots in your turf, it’s time to take action.
Do you suspect your lawn may be in grub trouble? Contact us for an evaluation.
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