Roots are pruned completely, and often white grubs leave large, shallow circular holes in the root crops. Plants with pruned roots may turn yellow and wilt or die, but often plants do not show symptoms on above-ground plant parts. As a result, much damage to the roots may not be discovered until harvest. The C-shaped larva has a brown head, a shiny, smooth, creamy white body, and 3 pairs of legs. Two rows of hairs on the underside of the last body segment distinguish May beetle grubs from similar grubs.
Pupae are whitish to yellowish-brownish and the same size as adults.
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