White Grub

What it looks like

Curled, C-shaped grubs with cream-colored bodies and yellow-brown heads, ranging from about 1/4 inch to 1.5 inches depending on age. You'll see wilting or dead patches of turf, and often signs of animals digging in the lawn hunting for a meal.

Often mistaken for: Other soil-dwelling larvae; damage can resemble drought stress or other root problems

When it shows up in the Triangle

Adults lay eggs in summer. The young, most vulnerable grubs feed from August through October, then a second round of larger grubs feeds again in April and early May.

Where you’ll see it

Home lawns and other turf areas.

What you can do

• Avoid overwatering your lawn in summer—moist soil attracts egg-laying adults
• Keep your turf thick and healthy with strong roots so it can tolerate light grub feeding
• Consider a biological treatment specific to Japanese beetle grubs, applied in late September or early October when soil pH is in the right range
• Water the lawn before any treatment to bring grubs closer to the surface