Garden Column for the Salisbury Post
Darrell Blackwelder
September 21, 2001

	June beetles and Japanese beetles can be a menance in the
fall and winter asthey are in the summer. Beetle larve or grubs
in large populations can cause serious problems in home lawns and
flower beds. I have already received a few calls concerning this
pest.
     The adult lays eggs in late June and July quickly hatching
into small grubs.  Japanese beetle grubs feed on grass roots
causing large dead spots in lawns.  However, June beetle larvae
feed on decaying plant matter in the upper surface of the soil.
These can be easily identified by their large size and curious
habit of crawling on their backs across the soil.
    Grubs begin their desent burrowing deep into the soil as they
grow and mature. The deeper the insect burrows, the more
difficult they are to control. Beetle grubs burrow down at least
8 inches into the soil as the soil temperature declines in the
fall.
	Now is the best time to control grubs while our soil is
still warm since the grubs are close to the surface of the soil.
Beetle grubs can also be controlled also in the early spring but
with higher insecticidal rates, increasing costs, risk to the
environment and with least effective control.
     Controlling grubs now is important because it eliminates the
food source for moles.  Moles feed almost exclusively on white
grubs and other insects in the soil. Even though moles do not
really do that much damage to the turf itself, most prefer not to
have them in their lawn and shrub beds.
     There are quite a few insecticides that are labeled for grub
control in lawns and landscapes.  The most popular is granular
diazinon or Merit which is sold at most retail outlets in Rowan
County.  The granular insecticide can be applied with a
fertilizer spreader just as you would any granular fertilizer on
lawns and shrub beds. It's best to apply this pesticide just
before a rain or irrigate soon after application. There is one
important exception when applying pesticides to
control June beetle grubs or larvae. Use Sevin wettable powder,
not Merit, to control June beetle larve and do not irrigate after
application.
     As with all pesticides, always read and follow the label
before application.  Please contact Cooperative Extension if you
have any questions concerning pesticide applications.