Discoloured patches of turf. Dying produce. Easy to pull out grass. It isn’t something you’d want to see in your lawn or garden beds, but all three are signs of a white curl grub infestation, which can destroy the veggie garden you’ve worked so hard for or the lush looks of your front and back yard.
So, if you’re experiencing any of the above-mentioned signs let’s see how you can identify a white grub infestation and how to get rid of the destructive pest.
Curl grubs are the larvae of different species of beetles, including the African Black Beetle and the Christmas Beetle here in Australia. They are white and plump, grow to about 3cm in size, and have three pairs of legs and a small orange head.
The easiest way to identify curl grubs is to poke them with a stick. If they curl into a “C” shape you have a curl grub problem on your hands.
Curl grubs change their diet in the varying stages of their growth. In their earliest phase, grubs feed on decaying organic matter. Once they become a bit bigger, white grubs will feed on grassroots, as well as roots of vegetables and flowers.
In the late stages, white curl grubs tend to cause the most damage to lawns and garden beds as this is the time when they’re feeding the most.
The life cycle of the curl grub is pretty simple. Adult beetles mate and lay eggs throughout the spring season. Once the grubs hatch they spend the whole summer feeding on your lawns and plants in your garden beds, pupate in the autumn and rest in the winter months.
Curl grubs hate it when their environment is wet. A simple way to see if you have an ongoing curl grub infestation is to cover a portion of your lawn or garden bed with cardboard after watering.
Leave it overnight and check it the morning after. If you find any white curl grubs present beneath the cardboard-covered area, then you have an ongoing infestation.
Keep in mind that one or two grubs aren’t a cause for concern. It’s only normal to have insects in your soil. You should be worried if large amounts are present.
While curl grubs can cause a lot of damage, they’re pretty easy to deal with. Some DIY pest control methods work well if applied at the right time.
You can effectively control and kill white curl grubs in the soil by applying Neem Oil. The product works by both disrupting the growing stages of the grubs and stopping them from feeding on the sprayed plants.
If you want to use Neem Oil as a grub control method, you should apply it in mid-summer. Spray the lawn or garden bed with vegetable oil and you should start seeing results within a week. This method can also be applied to affected potted plants as well.
If you don’t have a week to wait, the fastest way is to use pesticides to kill the curl grubs.
Maintaining the soil well irrigated can help keep curl grubs away from your property. Make sure your turf is thick and at a minimum of 5cm in height. This is a great way to ensure grubs won’t lay eggs in your yard.
Like with any other type of infestation, prevention is key. The best way to deal with an infestation is to prevent it in the first place.
Maintaining a lush green turf requires a lot of time and experience. If you just want to kick back and relax in your backyard you can hire professionals to keep your lawn or garden in top shape and eliminate white curl grubs or other types of pests when needed!
Explore all the garden maintenance service we can supply you with depending on your preferences!
Do you have experience with dealing with white curl grubs?
Share it in the comment section below!
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