Very basic question, I'm sure... I was planting a shrub and came across a whole lot of these guys. Grubs, I assume -- but what kind, how bad are they, and how best to combat them? I'm open to both organic and non-organic solutions (at the risk of being judged ;- ) Overall, soil is pretty healthy, and many things are doing just fine. But my shrubs are a little hit or miss (pieris/andromeda, kalmia/mountain laurel, and azalea). Thanks for suggestions!
These appear to be 'white grubs', larvae of scarab beetles. They feed primarily on roots of grasses, and some species (including the Japanese beetle) can be quite destructive turf pests. See https://extension.unh.edu/resource/white-grubs-fact-sheet for a fact sheet and https://www.saferbrand.com/articles/how-to-kill-grubs-in-lawn for some control suggestions.
These appear to be 'white grubs', larvae of scarab beetles. They feed primarily on roots of grasses, and some species (including the Japanese beetle) can be quite destructive turf pests. See https://extension.unh.edu/resource/white-grubs-fact-sheet for a fact sheet and https://www.saferbrand.com/articles/how-to-kill-grubs-in-lawn for some control suggestions.
There are many other species of scarabs whose larvae are found in soil but that do not feed on grass roots. For example, I often find grubs of beetles in the genus Cotinus in our vegetable garden soil, where they appear to be feeding on decomposing organic matter found there - I have never seen any evidence of them harming any of the plants there. So, unless you find grubs in direct association with shrub roots and/or see evidence of feeding damage, you may not need to worry too much.
