Turf larvae, also known as curl larvae, are white, C-shaped larvae with a brown or black head. They are the larvae of various lawn beetles and live below the surface of the soil. Commonly known as white curl larvae, they feed on grass roots and can destroy an entire lawn in a few weeks.
Most larval activities occur during the warmer times of the year, from early spring through summer and into fall. Lawn grubs can destroy your lawn before you’re even aware of their presence. Here are different techniques on how you can recognize and deal with it before it does any major damage to your lawn.
• pesticides
A long-term pesticide is best for any type of grass larvae. Since the larvae are very active at night, it is best to apply the herbicide before the sun goes down. When they eat the grass with pesticide, they will die. It is best to employ the use of pesticides during the spring and summer months because they dig deeper into the soil during the winter.
• Aerator shoes with spikes
Also known as death toes, you should wear spiked aerator shoes while walking on the grass. This is the favored method used to control the Japanese beetle, as it provides two benefits at the same time: aerating the lawn and killing the larvae.
• milky disease
Milky Disease is the scientific name for an organic solution that works most effectively if you have a high concentration of larvae in your lawn. The more larvae you have, the greater the chance of reducing their numbers. The milky disease solution can stay on your lawn for a long time, so you don’t need to reapply it. Also, research shows that the milky disease only affects white grubs and Japanese beetles.
• Nomatodes
Another proven effective method of eliminating that is by using long, thin worms called nomatodes. When these nomatodes enter their coils, they attach themselves to the larvae in the grass until they die. Studies have shown that this method is quite effective, especially if the population is quite large.
• Lawn aerator
The larvae live in the thatch layer of your lawn. When using a lawn aerator or electric rake, it removes thatch. At the same time, it also kills at least half of the grass grubs consuming your lawn. After removing the straw, you will notice that there are many dead larvae fused with it. Also, removing the protective layer of thatch from the soil exposes the larvae to their natural predators, such as birds.
