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white grub
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Illustration showing seven types of beetle larvae, each with distinct shapes and textures, including white grub, linden borer, water-penny, aquatic beetles, carpet beetle, and buprestid larva, with scientific names labeled.
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white grub

insect larva
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Illustration showing seven types of beetle larvae, each with distinct shapes and textures, including white grub, linden borer, water-penny, aquatic beetles, carpet beetle, and buprestid larva, with scientific names labeled.
Beetle larvae Diversity of beetle larvae.

A white grub is the larval stage of certain beetles, most notably June bugs. These grubs are destructive pests that feed on grass roots. June bugs, belonging to the genus Phyllophaga, are common beetles attracted to lights on warm spring evenings.12

The white grubs live in the soil and can cause significant damage to crops like corn, potatoes, and strawberries, as well as kill lawns and pastures by severing grass roots. After feeding on roots for about three years, the grubs pupate and emerge as adult beetles.2

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  1. white grub
  2. June bug

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