White grubs are immature scarab beetles. Although all grubs cause similar damage, the treatment you choose should correspond to the species, which is why treatments should be determined after the grub has been identified by close examination. Yes, someone needs to look.
Larvae are “C”-shaped, with six legs, and well-developed mandibles attached to a defined head capsule. The eight species that occur in NY can be differentiated based on two characters of the abdomen: the raster pattern and the anal slit. Learn how to identify the different species by using the Cornell University Grub ID website.
Grubs can also be identified at a local Cornell Cooperative Extension office or by submitting a specimen or photo to the Insect Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University.
