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Scarab Beetles – Grubs – Scarabaeidae family

Written by Amisha on .

Scarab Beetles/Grubs (Scarabaeidae family) Common Name: Scarab Beetles/Grubs Beetles Latin Name: Scarabaeidae family Appearance: Many scarab beetle species are regarded as damaging turf and garden pests. May and June’s beetles are large, heavy-bodied insects that can exceed one inch in length. Many beetle species in the scarab beetle family are damaging turf and garden pests. This includes damaging invasive pests like European chafers and Japanese beetles, as well as dozens of species known as May and June in the region.
  • Some scarab beetles destroy plant leaves, flowers, and fruits as adults; as immature larvae, they harm turf grasses and other plants.
  • Common May and June beetle larvae are creamy white, brown-headed grubs that can grow 1 1/2 inches long.
  • The six-legged larvae coil into “C” shapes when disturbed, like other white grubs.
  • They are red-brown to practically black, with some species displaying metallic green or copper.
  • Scarab beetles, in their mature form, cause harm to plant leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Host plants: Larvae and adults may feed on both conifers’ and deciduous plants’ roots and leaves. Territory: Scarab beetles are found in about 20,000 different species all over the world. North America is home to around 1,500 Scarabaeidae species. Damages caused by Scarab Beetles/Grubs Beetles: Some scarab beetles can cause harm to trees and plants in their adult and larval phases. Adults gnaw on a leaf, although major defoliation is extremely unusual. They are medium to big beetles with an oval shape and are sometimes known as “May” or “June” beetles or “chafers. Larvae are root feeders that can cause extensive root pruning. They are c-shaped “white grubs” that may grow to the size of a half-dollar. Life history and habits: Scarabs, like other beetles, go through four phases of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Scarab beetles deposit their eggs in the earth, dung, or decaying materials such as carrion. The larvae of many species graze on plant roots. However, some feed directly on dung or carrion. Grubs often crawl deeper into the earth to survive freezing temperatures in harsh winter climes. They become adults in early summer.