This NebGuide contains information on identifying and managing white grubs in turfgrass. They are white with a brown head and have a C-shaped body and three pairs of short legs immediately behind the head. The internal gut can readily be seen through the thin skin of the abdomen.
White grubs are one of the most destructive insect pests of turf.
They feed on grass roots and can destroy the entire root system of the plant. Large areas of turf can be killed in a short time. There are many species of white grubs in Nebraska. The most important groups are the masked chafers Cyclocephala spp. Ataenius Phyllophaga Cyclocephala Figure 2.