Western Masked Chafer(Cyclocephala hirta)Common Name: Western Masked Chafer
Latin Name: Cyclocephala hirta
Appearance:
Adult beetles, often known as May or Junebugs, are 12 to 5/8 inch long and reddish-brown.
White grubs are 1-inch long “C”-shaped larvae with cream-colored bodies and brown head capsules. Each of the first three segments behind the head has one pair of legs.
In Texas, about 100 species of scarab beetles from various genera (e.g., Cyclocephala, Phyllophaga, and others) are classified as white grubs, May beetles, and June bugs.
Territory:
Western Masked Chafers are Native to the northeastern United States.
Damages caused by Western Masked Chafer:
Mouthparts are used for chewing. Phyllophaga crinita is widespread in Texas turfgrass, especially bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and tall fescue. Lawns become yellow and perish when they are overfed with grubs. Grass that has been severely injured might be “rolled up” like a carpet. Grubs eat the roots of weeds, vegetable transplants, and ornamental plants. They are significant pests of fodder, corn, sorghum, and sugarcane in agriculture. Large (third stage or instar) grubs that feed on roots in the fall and spring cause the most serious plant damage. White grubs are commonly seen while tilling garden soil or sifting through dirt beneath injured turfgrass. In the spring, adults can be found in large numbers near lights.
Life history and Habits:
Adults appear in the spring. During adult flights, lights can attract a large number of beetles. The best time to fly in central Texas in mid to late June. Females, who are less drawn to light, dig 2 to 5 inches underground and deposit their eggs. Small grubs (larvae) hatch from eggs in 3 to 4 weeks and go through three stages (instars), the first two of which last around three weeks. The last larval stage remains in the soil from fall until April. White grubs pupate 3 to 6 inches underground in the soil in the spring and early summer. Adults emerge from pupae after about 3 weeks. Each year, one generation is born. However, growth in North Texas may take two years.
