Billbug

What it looks like

You'll see irregular dead patches of lawn that pull up easily. Look closely at the crown of the grass for sawdust-like debris—that's a telltale sign. A simple tug test helps confirm it: with billbugs, the grass snaps off at the crown, while grub-damaged turf pulls up like a loose rug.

Often mistaken for: Drought stress or grub damage

When it shows up in the Triangle

Adults are active from spring through early fall, laying eggs during that window. Larvae feed from May through October, with the worst damage usually showing up in early to mid-summer as they move down into the crown and roots.

Where you’ll see it

Mainly affects home lawns and other turf areas, especially zoysia and bermuda grass.

What you can do

• Keep thatch buildup in check
• Avoid letting your lawn get overly drought-stressed, since stress hides or worsens damage
• Consider overseeding or renovating with more resistant zoysia or bermuda varieties when available
• Check suspect areas with the tug test to catch problems early