Pests don't wait. Protect your home today.
White Grubs (scarab beetle larvae)
Identification guide for South Florida homeowners.
What Are White Grubs?
White grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles, including May or June beetles and others. They live in the soil and feed on grass roots. When grub numbers are high, the turf can lift up like a loose carpet because the roots have been eaten away.
How to Identify Them
Grubs are plump, C-shaped and creamy white with a brown head and six legs near the head. To check, cut a square of sod in a few places at the edge of a damaged area and peel it back to look in the top couple of inches of soil.
Similar problems:
- Mole crickets: tunnel and leave spongy turf. See mole crickets.
- Armyworms and sod webworms: feed on blades, not roots. See armyworms.
Life Cycle and Habits
Adult beetles lay eggs in the soil. Larvae feed on roots, then pupate and emerge as beetles. Some species have a one-year cycle.
Signs of White Grubs
- Wilting, browning patches that don't respond to watering
- Turf that lifts easily like carpet
- Animals like armadillos, raccoons or birds digging in the lawn
- Beetles flying around lights at night
Is it dangerous?
- Property damage
Root feeding that kills grass.
Prevention Tips
- Keep turf healthy with proper watering and mowing.
- Check for grubs when animals start digging.
- Reduce outdoor lights that attract adult beetles.
About Lawn and Plant Treatment
Pro-Spray's service covers pests in and around your home, not lawn or plant treatment. For turf or plant damage, contact a licensed lawn and ornamental provider or your UF/IFAS county Extension office, which can help confirm the cause and recommend options for your yard.
Grubs and Wildlife Damage
In many South Florida yards, the first sign of grubs isn't the grass itself but the animals that hunt them. Armadillos, raccoons and birds will dig and tear up turf to get at grubs, often leaving a lawn looking like it's been rototilled overnight. While the digging is frustrating, it's useful information. Checking the soil where animals have been digging can quickly tell you whether grubs are the cause. If you find plenty of grubs, that likely explains the wildlife damage. If you don't, the animals may be after other insects like mole crickets.
Beetles at the Porch Light
Adult scarab beetles, such as May beetles and June beetles, are often seen buzzing around porch lights, pool cage lights and screens at night during their flight season. Large numbers at your lights can be a hint that females are laying eggs in nearby lawns. Reducing outdoor lighting during these periods may help.
How to Check Your Lawn
Use a shovel or knife to cut three sides of a square about a foot wide and a couple of inches deep at the edge of a damaged area. Fold the sod back and look in the soil and roots for C-shaped white larvae. Check several spots to get a sense of how many there are.
Helping Roots Recover
After grubs are controlled, water the lawn following local guidelines to encourage new roots, avoid mowing too short and fill bare spots with plugs or sod if needed.
Different scarab species have different seasons, so your county Extension office can help identify which grub you have and when it's most active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my grass pull up like carpet?
Why are armadillos digging up my lawn?
Are grubs harmful to people or pets?
How many grubs is too many?
Reviewed October 2026 by Pro-Spray's family-run team
Pests don't wait.
Protect your home today.
Questions about a pest in or around your home? Call or text us.
Prefer to text or email? Text us · info@prospraypest.com