What specific human land management practice can sometimes encourage higher survival rates among the root-feeding grub stage?
Answer
Excess watering or fertilizing lawns.
While the beetle population cycle is natural, certain environmental conditions and specific land management practices can inadvertently favor the survival and proliferation of the root-feeding grubs. Specifically, providing excess watering or over-fertilizing lawns can create conditions that promote higher grub survival rates underground. These conditions may relate to turf health or moisture retention, indirectly leading to a larger population emerging in subsequent adult seasons. Conversely, a lack of beetles might suggest natural controls, like predators, are effectively keeping numbers in check.
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