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Taber, Alberta

www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=34865

I was digging in my hoophouse outside my roots and discovered these things. I've gardened for 8 years here and never seen them before. They are down a few inches into the soil and are about an inch long curled up, or about 2 stretched out. The soil in my hoophouse is warmer than normal and I've found a few dozen of them in different spots. Outside the hoophouse I've only found 2 or 3 and they are much smaller. Anyone have any ideas what they are and should I be worried?
Alan

6/7/2005 9:36:35 AM

Ohio

thats a grub sax,dark head and white body right?

Brooks

6/7/2005 10:04:03 AM

Taber, Alberta

You got it Brooks, but a grub that grows into what?

6/7/2005 10:10:00 AM

Ashville, Ohio

either japanese beetle or chafer or may beetle

6/7/2005 10:35:03 AM

Ashville, Ohio

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/index.html
here is a good site that can help with identification, how to control it and other useful information

6/7/2005 10:38:10 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You need to get a close up of the underside of it. So we can see it better

6/7/2005 11:03:45 AM

Taber, Alberta

I posted a closeup of the sucker on my diary. It should be up as soon as it clears. Thanks for the help.
Alan

6/7/2005 3:08:47 PM

Taber, Alberta

I managed to get ahold of an entomologist with Agriculture Canada (finally, my tax dollars at work for me) and he looked at the pictures I sent and figured it was a June beetle. However, according to him, mostly they live in soil under sod, or newly turned gardens in our area. My garden is neither. He said it's nearly full grown and I may have some problems with them eating the plant and roots. He was confused as to how it would suddenly appear in my garden soil.
I then told him I put in about 1 1/2 yards of very old horse manure last fall. He then figured that was the source of the grub and it was most likely a dung beetle (the grubs of the dung beetle and June beetle look very similar) feeding on the manure. Because of the size of the grub (almost full grown) it had to have eaten something to get to that size and there are only a few germinating weeds below the surface. Other than being gross for my kids, they should do no damage to plants as they live off of the manure (according to him).
Any other opinions?
Alan

6/7/2005 4:32:09 PM

Long Island,New York

Beetle grub...doesn't matter which...its bad...eats roots and stuff like that. Not a June Bug..they are huge like size 35/lb shrimp. Use merit.

6/7/2005 7:04:25 PM