Grub Identification In Florida

What Are Grubs?

Grubs are the larvae of beetles. White grubs, which turn into Japanese beetles, are the most common species in Florida. They’re mostly known for damaging lawns, causing a thin and brown turf. While they’re not the prettiest worms, typically a white color with brown heads, they can turn into colorful beetles such as the Green June Beetle.

How Do Grubs Damage Lawns?

Grubs will eat turf at the root, which will prevent the grass from absorbing water, causing the grass to wither. Look for small mounds of dirt on the surface of your lawn to identify possible grubs, along with patchy, brown grass.

How Can I Treat Grubs Naturally?

Milky spore is an eco-friendly option for treating lawn grubs. It’s actually a bacterial disease, but don’t worry–it’s non-toxic to humans. Milky spore targets Japanese beetle grubs, and can be easily purchased from your local home and garden store.

To effectively use milky spore, apply a few times a year for 2-3 years. After that, your lawn will likely be protected for 15-20 years. Make sure environmental conditions are right, the ideal soil temperature for milky spore is 60-70 degrees F.

You can also try using neem oil or Azadirachtin, a component of neem oil. The difference between the two is that Azadirachtin directly kills the grubs while neem oil deters grubs from feeding, growing and laying eggs.

How Do I Prevent Grubs?

The best method of grub prevention is to keep a healthy lawn. If your lawn is strong enough, scavenging grubs will barely be able to scratch the surface of the root system.

St Augustine grass should be kept at a length of 3.5-4 inches.
Water your lawn twice a week, 10 minutes a day in a rainy season, 30 minutes a day in a dry season.
Keep your lawn fertilized, but monitor nitrogen levels to make sure it’s not over fertilized.
Have your lawn inspected–pest control experts can accurately see what areas of your lawn need attention and have potential pest issues. While no pest issue can’t be solved, it’s always good to catch them earlier rather than later.

If the grubs in your lawn won’t go away, Native Pest Management offers lawn pest services for grubs, as well as free lawn inspections. Call to schedule yours today!