Susceptible Species
Most turfgrass species, though most commonly a pest of warm season turf varieties.
Stages
Immature/larval stage: White to creamy-white larvae, soft bodied, up to 20mm long, 3 pairs of legs, hard light brown head capsule.
Mature/adult stage: Dark brown to black scarab beetle up to 16mm long, the antennae have large club-like ends and the underside of the body is covered in short grey hairs.
Biology and Lifecycle
Adults emerge from pupation under the soil in early spring, and often fly to eucalyptus trees to mate before returning to the soil to lay 20-40 eggs.
The larvae then hatch and burrow into the soil where they remain for a period of 8-10 months before emergence the following spring. Larvae will mainly eat decaying organic matter though in large numbers their minor feeding activities on plant roots can cause injury.
Adults then hatch in spring and live fore 1-9 weeks.
Damage
Damage typically occurs through turf injury due to larval feeding, though high pest pressure can result in disrupted surfaces of bowling greens as well.
Plague proportions can be reached following warm, dry winters. Larvae feeding on root material can result in discolouration of turfgrass and eventually plant death, often in irregular patterns but over large areas in severe cases.
Severely affected turf can be rolled back as roots are sheared off, to expose white larvae underneath the thatch layer.
Management Tips
Ensure infested areas of turf have do not suffer from moisture stress as this will exacerbate the symptoms of damage cause by larvae feeding
Pruinose Scarab
Spring / Summer
Larvae - Roots
Sericesthis germinata
"White to creamy-white larvae, soft bodied, up to 20mm long, 3 pairs of legs, light brown head capsule Mature/adult stage: Dark brown to black scarab beetle up to 16mm long, the antennae have large club-like ends and the underside of the body is covered in short grey hairs."
Adults emerge from pupation under the soil in early spring, and often fly to eucalyptus trees to mate before returning to the soil to lay 20-40 eggs.The larvae then hatch and burrow into the soil where they remain for a period of 8-10 months before emergence the following spring.
Larvae will mainly eat decaying organic matter though in large numbers their minor feeding activities on plant roots can cause injury.Adults then hatch in spring and live fore 1-9 weeks.
| Sericesthis germinata |
Susceptible Species
Most turfgrass species, though most commonly a pest of warm season turf varieties.
Stages
Immature/larval stage: White to creamy-white larvae, soft bodied, up to 20mm long, 3 pairs of legs, hard light brown head capsule.
Mature/adult stage: Dark brown to black scarab beetle up to 16mm long, the antennae have large club-like ends and the underside of the body is covered in short grey hairs.
Biology and Lifecycle
Adults emerge from pupation under the soil in early spring, and often fly to eucalyptus trees to mate before returning to the soil to lay 20-40 eggs.
The larvae then hatch and burrow into the soil where they remain for a period of 8-10 months before emergence the following spring. Larvae will mainly eat decaying organic matter though in large numbers their minor feeding activities on plant roots can cause injury.
Adults then hatch in spring and live fore 1-9 weeks.
Damage
Damage typically occurs through turf injury due to larval feeding, though high pest pressure can result in disrupted surfaces of bowling greens as well.
Plague proportions can be reached following warm, dry winters. Larvae feeding on root material can result in discolouration of turfgrass and eventually plant death, often in irregular patterns but over large areas in severe cases.
Severely affected turf can be rolled back as roots are sheared off, to expose white larvae underneath the thatch layer.
Management Tips
Ensure infested areas of turf have do not suffer from moisture stress as this will exacerbate the symptoms of damage cause by larvae feeding
Pruinose Scarab
Spring / Summer
Larvae - Roots
Sericesthis germinata
"White to creamy-white larvae, soft bodied, up to 20mm long, 3 pairs of legs, light brown head capsule Mature/adult stage: Dark brown to black scarab beetle up to 16mm long, the antennae have large club-like ends and the underside of the body is covered in short grey hairs."
Adults emerge from pupation under the soil in early spring, and often fly to eucalyptus trees to mate before returning to the soil to lay 20-40 eggs.The larvae then hatch and burrow into the soil where they remain for a period of 8-10 months before emergence the following spring.
Larvae will mainly eat decaying organic matter though in large numbers their minor feeding activities on plant roots can cause injury.Adults then hatch in spring and live fore 1-9 weeks.
