Frequently Asked Questions About Insects - Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University

Frequently Asked Questions

Topic:	Beetles, grub worms
Question:	I have come across several dozens of grub worms, all at the same location, measuring 4 inches long and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in circumference, which is about 4 times larger than any other grub worm I've ever seen. Is this normal growth for a grub worm?
Answer:	White grubs or "grub worms" are the immature form of scarab beetles. Most of the ones that you see are immatures of June beetles, also called May beetles. The scarab family is large one and some scarabs are quite large in size. You probably have immatures from one of the larger species such as the Eastern Hercules beetle, Dynastes tityus (Linnaeus) or elephant beetle or ox beetle, Strategus aloeus (Linnaeus). The adults are quite impressive so you might want to raise them or just put them back in nature. They feed on decaying organic matter (detritus) and sometimes are found in old rotten wood or compost heaps.
Related Link:	http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1131.html
Related Link:	http://aggie-turf.tamu.edu/answers4you/insect/grubs.html
Image Link: **
Response by:	John A. Jackman, Ph.D.
Title:	Professor and Extension Entomologist
** Most of the Related Links above also contain images.