Adults can be seen any time of day, especially on golf course greens and tees. Female ataenius adults burrow into the thatch and upper soil where they lay clutches of 11 or 12 eggs. Eggs hatch into scarab grubs, which can be distinguished from other white grubs by their small size, the scattered pattern of bristles on the last abdominal segment, and a pair of pads at the tip of the abdomen. At least two or three generations develop in California each year.
Adults are continuously active during warm months in inland areas.
They probably overwinter in a reproductive dormancy. Although black turfgrass ataenius is common in many turfgrass areas, it is predominantly a pest of golf courses, especially during summer on highly stressed, cool season grasses. The larval stage damages turfgrass by feeding on roots, resulting in irregular dead patches. The damaged area appears to be drought stressed, even where there is sufficient irrigation. Symptoms may resemble those of turfgrass root diseases such as summer patch, take-all patch, and Pythium root rot.