White grubs feed on grass roots below the surface, causing damage that looks like drought stress. Here is how to tell the difference and take action.
White grubs are the larval stage of Japanese beetles, June beetles, and masked chafers. They live in the soil and feed on grass roots, severing the connection between the plant and its water supply. The damage looks like drought stress because that is essentially what is happening — the grass cannot take up water anymore. Grub damage typically shows up in late summer through fall when larvae are largest and feeding most aggressively.
Grub-damaged grass feels spongy underfoot and pulls up easily, like loose carpet. If you can peel back a section of turf and see white C-shaped larvae in the top 2 to 3 inches of soil, you have grubs. More than 5 grubs per square foot is the treatment threshold for most warm-season grasses. Irregular brown patches that do not respond to watering are a strong indicator.
Preventive grub treatment applied in late spring or early summer targets newly hatched larvae when they are small and close to the surface. Products containing imidacloprid or chlorantraniliprole provide season-long control. Curative treatments for active infestations use faster-acting products like trichlorfon. Curative applications work best in late summer when grubs are still feeding in the top soil layer.
A healthy, well-maintained lawn tolerates low grub populations without visible damage. Proper fertilization, watering, and soil health give your grass the root density to withstand some feeding. Annual preventive insecticide applications during peak egg-laying season (June through July in Middle Georgia) provide the most reliable protection.
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