If you are applying a product containing clothianidin, thiamethoxam or imidacloprid, the lawn should be mowed prior to the application so that no weeds are flowering in the lawn when the insecticide is applied. The adults of white grubs are commonly Japanese Beetles, May/June beetles or a type of chafer.The larva (grub stage) are detritivores, but can damage lawn and garden areas by feeding on plant roots. If you confirmed grub damage the previous fall or spring, meaning you found lots of grubs, then you may want to use a preventive insecticide for one or two years to build a more dense turf that will be tolerant of grubs. ... are known for their ability to develop resistance to synthetic chemicals and some pesticides may be non-specific and kill beneficial insects. Lawn grubs can be present in your lawn but cause absolutely no problems. All turfgrass species, especially annual bluegrass (a common weed in turf), Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. If this has happened in your lawn, there is good news. These chemicals kill the grubs immediately. The second major concern is to make sure the insecticide is thoroughly watered into the ground with at least a half-inch of irrigation or rain immediately after the chemical is applied. Lawn sprinklers can be used if you do not have an irrigation system. Other types of common lawn grubs around the United States include the larvae of the May and June beetles, green June beetle and the black turfgrass ataenius. Shetlar added, “If there are four to five grubs per square foot, that’s usually enough for them to be digging around.”. If applied in early spring, the pesticide may move through the soil or partially degrade by the time the grubs hatch in late July. Imidacloprid (trade name, Merit) is used for chemical control, but it has limited effectiveness. The outbreak phase where turf damage is common may last five to 10 years. However, they are more effective when the grubs are younger and living near the surface than when they are bigger and situated deeper. “In many cases, grubs aren’t even discovered until the skunks and raccoons start digging them up,” said Shetlar. The chemicals carbaryl and trichlorfon that are considered curative treatments — they are short-lived products effective immediately. Both compounds work equally well on Japanese beetle grubs. Store insecticide products in a locked cabinet not accessible to children. However, Shetlar did let on that the most experienced organic lawn care professionals may have the knack for using them effectively against white grubs. It is suspected that the spread of AGB is due to imidacloprid overuse: the chemical kills the other grub species and allows the expansion of this one. Try a synthetic pesticide for all grubs. Some of these products come in a granular formulation that is applied with a fertilizer spreader or some products are designed to be mixed with water and sprayed. There are a lot of cultural methods you can use, particularly to get leatherjackets up. But, before dismissing them as nothing but gross menaces, grubs — the larval stage of certain adult beetles — are common in lawns and do play a role in the natural order of things (well, at least in the right numbers). The grubs of economic importance in North Carolina are those of the Japanese beetle, the green June beetle, the southern masked chafer, the northern masked chafer, and the Asiatic garden beetle. Add one quart of warm water and one tablespoon of liquid soap. This also moves the chemical off the grass and will make the yard safe for children, pets and wildlife after the yard is dry. Safe for use on all types of grass and ornamentals. There is one insecticide product in a different chemical class that will give a similar level of grub control: chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn). Triazicide will not control grubs. The grubs feed from the beginning of August until late October. The nematodes (small numbers of which are naturally present in soil) will kill the grubs without unbalancing the soil ecosystem like chemical … This is the result of grub activity: specifically, the consequences of their nibbling on your tender, tasty turfgrass roots. Neither of the products listed grubs on the label printed on the bag and neither of the products would have controlled grubs. There is another active ingredient in some insecticides called chlorantraniliprole that will also work in preventing grub problems, but it is less water soluble than the other preventive compounds mentioned above, so it can be applied any time after the grass turns green in the spring. Like anything else in lawns and gardens, white grubs are a force of nature. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. One is Dylox (trichlorfon), which is a quick-acting chemical insecticide that kills both kinds of grubs. May 22, 2020. I found five to nine different products at each store. When talking about the maximum threshold of tolerance for grubs, “I always chuckle about [checking the threshold], in that skunks and raccoons haven’t read about this threshold.”, As such, it may be worthwhile for homeowners to be just a little warier on account of skunks and raccoons. The critical issue with any grub control product is the active ingredient. * Editorial Note: LawnStarter may receive a commission if you purchase certain products mentioned in this article. These natural predators may help control the problem. In fact, most well-maintained lawns do not have visible damage from grubs. Japanese beetles like to lay their eggs on irrigated turf like golf courses, athletic fields and highly maintained lawns. Applying them now will allow some of the chemical to leach through the turf or break down to the point that not enough insecticide will be there in July to control grubs. It contains only lambda-cyhalothrin or gamma-cyhalothrin. These lawn pests tend to curl up in a “C” shape at rest. Beneficial Insects for Your Lawn and Garden, Go, Spot, Go: 5 Myths About Dog Urine Spots on Lawns, How to Spray Lawns for Weeds, Safely and Effectively, Composting 101: How to Start Your First Compost Pile, Companion Plants That Love Your Lawn (and Vice Versa), Natural Weed Killers: A Guide to Organic Herbicides, 2021’s Best and Worst States for Living Off the Grid, 10 Walkway Ideas for Your Yard and Garden, 14 Treehouse Ideas for Your Backyard Playhouse. Natural Solutions for Killing Grubs & Beetles. European chafers can devastate a lawn with little warning because the adult beetles fly at dusk when they emerge in June and early July, and can easily be overlooked because their evening flight to mate and lay eggs occurs after sunset. Before doing anything, it is important to make sure the problem is grubs. If it’s still firmly rooted, then you have another problem, such as brown patch or dog urine damage. Here’s a good test, from the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program: Pull up about 1 square foot of the earth around the base of your sod (where the stems meet the roots). They can be abundant in non-irrigated home lawns if we receive frequent rain in July, but are scarce in lawns that are very dry in July and early August. Chemical Control. The standard, and highly effective, grub control insecticides are products that contain imidacloprid, clothianidin or thiomethoxam. Do not apply any curative compounds in the spring after May 15 as grubs stop feeding in late May as they prepare to pupate. There are two chemicals, carbaryl and trichlorfon, that are considered curative treatments. His key to this: fertilizing one’s lawn with nitrogen only once per year, and doing it very strategically “and judiciously,” to quote Shetlar, “usually in late October, early November.”. In addition, grub control products that contain the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole are safe for bees, even when weed flowers are sprayed. I went to several of the local lawn and garden centers in the Lansing, Michigan, area to see what kinds of products are available that specifically claim they will work to control grubs. Products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniloprole will not control grubs in the spring. To kill grubs in the spring or fall, use carbaryl or trichlorfon. The profusion of different products can be rather mystifying. Effective insecticide control products against grubs include imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin. Always wear rubber gloves and rubber boots when applying insecticides to turfgrass. Biological, granulated insecticide is a great non–chemical choice to control grubs found in lawns. Once grubs are established, what can you do about it? Few admire their looks. We must either tolerate them, battle them head-on, or strike a compromise with them — or, ideally, prevent their spread beforehand to reduce the risk of eventual over-infestation. Use Milky Spore. Our research indicates they will kill 20-80% of grubs when applied in September or 20-55% when applied in late October. If applied too late, preventative products may not be effective as they work best on small grubs. “The typical damage usually seen here is something that looks like drought stress usually,” Shetlar said. Check the active ingredients. Finding one or two grubs does not indicate you need to apply a grub control product. *What is 0.5 inches of irrigation? However, if the grub population is high or if there is a history of damage in an area, it may be necessary to consider using an insecticide for grub control. It is important to realize that healthy turf, supported by frequent rain or irrigation, can support a grub population of five or more grubs per square foot with no visible turf damage. A third concern is the rate at which the insecticide is applied. It was also reported in Wisconsin in 2013. They are short-lived compounds that kill all life stages of grubs. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. Finally, avoid spray drift or granular spreader drift to flower beds when applying thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, clothianidin or any insecticide for grubs other than chlorantraniliprole. In the last 10 years, the amount of European chafer damage to home lawns in southern Michigan has steadily decreased to the point where it is unusual now to find populations high enough to damage turf. Currently, there are no approved insecticides for the control of chafer grubs; although, in 2018 and 2019 emergency authorisation of Syngenta insecticide Acelepryn was approved for the control of chafer grubs and leatherjackets. That’s the Japanese beetle and the masked chafer,” said Shetlar about his home turf. Is there anything more damaging (or, in some peoples’ eyes, revolting) than grubs in your lawn? There is an erroneous philosophy being perpetuated that because we have European chafers and Japanese beetles in the area, it is necessary to treat every year or your lawn will be damaged by grubs. Shetlar, however, recommended that lawn lovers should be even more vigilant, especially in order to prevent large critters from eating them. Preventive products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam or clothianidin will consistently reduce 75-100% of the grubs if they are applied in June or July and if they are watered-in with 0.5 inches of irrigation immediately after application. Granted, it sounds like something out of a horror film but the fact is, it works. A half-inch of irrigation is when lawn sprinklers are run until a container like a coffee mug, or several mugs, fills to a level 0.5 inches up from the bottom of the cup. They are preventive products that work very well on newly hatched grubs present in July, but do not work well for large grubs found from September to May. But what are the most effective options for sustainable-minded lawn owners? There are also products for sale that list grubs on the label that do NOT work for grubs. This product contains microscopic worms called Entomopathogenic Nematodes which prey on Chafer Grubs, infecting them with a fatal bacteria. When the ground warms up in spring, they resume feeding and can cause damage from the time the grass turns green until they pupate in mid-May. Chafer grubs can be found in the soil under the loose turf. Damage. Regionally, European chafers are a much bigger problem than they used to be. Next, you can keep the area moist enough to keep the earthworms alive, but dry enough to repel grub worms. The chafers (or Maybugs) produce the largest grubs, up to 5cm (2in) long. Their active ingredients are trichlorfon, clothianidin, and carbaryl. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa have now joined the club of Midwest states with lots of Japanese beetles, and they have been found in isolated locations as far west as Colorado. “Even then, milky spore disease is a weak pathogen that results in 20% to 25% infection at best.”. As with the preventive products, lawns should be mowed immediately before applying carbaryl or trichlorfon to protect bees. The most definitive way to check for an infestation is to pull the grass back and physically check for the beetles. Always follow label directions carefully when using any chemical pesticide. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. Hosts. A lawn should be mowed at 3 to 4 inches in height and properly fertilized for maximum root growth. “White grubs are eating the accumulated thatch and organic matter that’s in the top inch of the soil profile. “I emphasize a lot — especially to lawn care and sport field managers — [to try] to keep the thatch down to a minimum,” Shetlar said. “But the problem is, [if] they’re eating that thatch, they do eat the roots and the crowns [of turfgrass], which kills the plant.”. Free Shipping … After the eggs hatch, the grubs evolve in three stages, with grub damage greatest in late summer, when you will see areas of your lawn thinning and yellowing. There are two chemicals, carbaryl and trichlorfon, that are considered curative treatments. The European chafer is a very serious grub pest of turf and can cause more turf damage than the Japanese beetle. These are most likely the larvae of European chafers if they are found in lawns without an irrigation system. Some of it manifests as dry and deadened looking patches in your lawn. Adult beetles typically lay their eggs in June or July and, by August, those eggs hatch into larvae. Products containing only these ingredients will not work for grub control because the active ingredient binds with organic material and will not move down to where the grubs are feeding. White grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles. One trichlorfon product has “24 Hour Grub Control” in its name and would seem to indicate that it will kill grubs in 24 hours. Other chafer species besides the masked chafer beetles (like the European chafer) also lead to white grub infestations and can establish in lawns beyond the state’s borders. But cause absolutely no problems he added fact is, ” Shetlar said June or July they excellent... 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