Story: Insect pests of crops, pasture and forestry

Grass grub

Grass grub

Grass grubs are a widespread pest. The brown adult beetles (bottom) fly from October to January and feed on fruit trees and seedling crops. They lay eggs in pasture or lawns, and the larvae (top) hatch between December and March. The larvae eat plant roots through to September, killing off the grass.

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Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand
Reference: DSCG9207Smd (top); DSCG8934Smd (bottom)
Photographs by Peter E. Smith

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How to cite this page:

Alison Popay, 'Insect pests of crops, pasture and forestry - Endemic pests of pasture', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17954/grass-grub (accessed 29 April 2024)

Story by Alison Popay, published 24 Nov 2008