June beetles- white grubs

I am going to "cross pollenate" my original post, which is over in the pest ID forumn. Haven't had any responses so far so here it is:


I harvested some sweet potatoes last month that were growing in a 12" raised bed and found these grubs everywhere. Then I emptied the soil out of some 15gal smart pots and there they were again. I had been growing squash in these pots over the spring and summer.

I know that these grubs are more notorious for feeding on the roots of grass, but they are bad for veggies as well, right?? Surely, they are up to no good. How do you control them?

The grubs that I am referring to are always in a C- shape posture, white in color and are a bit lathargic so they don't squirm away if you expose them. They are translucent at one end and have an orange "head" at the other.

Japanese beetle grubs.

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1253&bih=556&q=japanese+beetle+grubs&gbv=2&aq=o&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

Don

So THAT'S what they were. I found a whole bunch when I dug my raised bed to put down some support stakes. Eeww.

Just googled some info on these. They are NO BUENO. Will have to get myself some beneficial nematodes.

This message was edited Oct 7, 2010 9:40 PM

JohnCrichton75, there is a large thread on the rose forum about these guys. I've never linked to another thread before but this might work: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1081239/

Anyway, the concensus is that you need to use milky spore with the beni nematodes for the best effect. And you need rain. It is pretty do-able for the average person, though. I've sprayed the beni nematodes for fire ants (said to work well on them and my yard definitely doesn't have that many any more). It wasn't that involved.

Personally I like to squeeze each one and watch the guts fly, I used to use a rock but now I just squish them. How do you treat for cutworms?

Thanks for the info, everyone. I just knew these guys were no bueno, lol! I need to research the milky spores but luckily I am already familiar with the nematodes. Anyone have a favorite supplier for nematodes? It has been real dry here lately so I will have to wait for some rain to help me out.

Until then, I will have to just squish them like Lisa and enjoy the torment, lol!

If the D*** Armadillos keep getting in the garden I won't have anything to squish. They're like bulldozers in the garden. I have managed to keep the deer and rabbits out but I never planned on Armadillos.