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| It is too late to treat white grubs now. Photo: Jeff Hahn, U of M Ext. |
The bottom line is that grubs are too large to treat now. The best time to treat Japanese beetle white grubs is July through mid-September when they are small or moderate-sized. As they get larger, it is more difficult to kill them and by fall it is no longer practical to manage them. When spring arrives, these grubs are still too large to try to control.
Also, consider why you want to manage grubs. If your hope is to see fewer adults by treating grubs, you will be disappointed. The grubs you kill in your yard has no bearing on how numerous the adults will be. An important reason for this is that Japanese beetle adults are good fliers and can easily enter a property from adjacent areas.
The best reason for treating grubs is to protect lawns from damage. Insecticides can be treated either preventatively, before the grubs are seen, or curatively once grub presence is verified.
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| Japanese beetle grub damage can be confused with other problems so check under the grass to see if grubs are present. Photo: Jeff Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension |
Effective preventative insecticides are chlorantraniliprole and halofenizide, both low risk products as well as imidacloprid and chlothianidin.
If turf damage has been sporadic the last few years, it is worth waiting to see if they are a problem this summer. Watch closely for symptoms of turf damage. You will typically see yellowing or browning grass.
Because there are other possible causes for discolored turf, check under the grass to verify it is due to grubs. If you verify their presence, effective curative insecticide are triclorfon, clothianidin, and carbaryl.
Comments
1. I used milky spore. I believe your literature states it does not work. This is at odds with other literature and anecdotal testimony.
2. Nematodes and compost tea, same thing.
3. Diversify plant toward native to decrease food and habitat for wasps who lay eggs in grubs (and according to Malcolm, fireflies which would indicate leaving leave and twig litter).
1. Apply milky spore.
2. Apply nematodes.
3. Plant ecograss - deeper roots, resilient to heavy rains and drought.
4. Plant native grass and flower gardens. Taking away full lawn of their food.
5. Native plants will draw parasitic wasps (not stinging aggressive) to lay their eggs in the grubs.
6. Make and apply compost tea.
7. Someday get chickens.
Break the cycle. Improve the soil. Add diversity. Draw birds and beneficial insects.