These articles are written to apply to the northeastern corner of Illinois. Problems and timing may not apply outside of this area.
White grubs are the most serious and destructive lawn insect pests in Illinois.
The time period from late August through September is typically when grub damage shows in northern Illinois. While not all lawns will get grubs and the extent of grub damage varies from year to year, there are some important points to consider concerning managing grubs in lawns. Grubs are the larval stage of beetles. Species that fed on lawns in northern Illinois include the annual white grub, true white grub, and Japanese beetle. The most common grub species in our area is the annual white grub, of which the adult is a tan chafer beetle.