What are the white grubs eating up grass in Kansas yards?

TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Kansas insect expert says recent favorable weather conditions are helping a troublesome grub make a greater impact in the Sunflower State this fall.

Some Kansans may have noticed the recent appearance of white grubs in their yards or while exploring the great outdoors. Kansas State University Entomologist Raymond Cloyd said in a recent publication

that these insects don’t pose a big threat to your backyard, but they can be a major annoyance.

“The larvae are not going to cause substantial damage to your turfgrass, but the larvae are a nuisance,” Cloyd said.

The larvae come courtesy of the green June beetle that appears in the summer months in Kansas. The grubs are about two inches in length and can appear in large numbers in grassy areas in the fall. Cloyd said a combination of high temperatures and abundant moisture has greatly helped the larvae and encourage them to come out to feed.

Cloyd said that, while the appearance of the larvae is expected around this time of year, he is receiving numerous questions from Kansans about the grubs. While the larvae usually can be found in yards feeding on grass clippings, they can also appear in pools, basements and garages. They stick out from other larvae for their tendency to crawl on their backs.

Green June beetle larvae can cause damage to yards by creating soil mounds or indirectly when animals like skunks and moles dig through the dirt to eat them. Cloyd said it is too late now to apply insecticides, but there is still one other solution people can use to fight back against the grubs.

“If you have large numbers of larvae on your sidewalks or other areas of the yard, you can collect them and place into a container of soapy water to kill them,” Cloyd said.

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