What specific part of turf plants do immature Christmas beetle grubs consume underground, causing significant damage?
Answer
They feed primarily on the roots of grasses.
The larval stage, known as the grub, spends the majority of its lifecycle beneath the soil surface, often for extended periods spanning months or even years. During this phase, its exclusive diet consists of consuming the subterranean roots of grasses. This continuous root consumption is the mechanism by which significant damage to lawns occurs. When grub populations are high, they can eliminate the root structure supporting the turf, which results in large, irregular sections of the lawn dying off. This damage is so severe that the resulting dead grass patches can often be lifted effortlessly, similar to pulling up a piece of carpet, because the roots have been completely severed.
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