Not all grubs are the same. Especially in terms of their usefulness or harmfulness. If you spot specimens of such beetle larvae in your garden, it is good to be able to identify their species. Fortunately, you can't just use external appearance features.
How can you identify grubs in the garden?
To identify grubs in the garden, pay attention to their size, coloring, body shape and movement. Common species are May beetle (5-6 cm, dark abdomen), June beetle (5-7 cm, similar coloring, crawling on its stomach), garden leaf beetle (1 cm, minor damage), rose beetle (3 cm, useful, lying on its back) and rhinoceros beetle grubs (up to 10 cm).
Which grub species you can expect in your garden
The larvae of scarab beetles are called grubs. This superfamily within the order of beetles includes a large number of species and genera - currently the constantly expanding numbers are around 35,000 species and 2,500 genera worldwide. Of course, not all of them are found in Germany.
Species and (sub)families known to us are mainly:
- Dung beetle
- Cockchafer
- June beetle
- Stag Beetle
- rose beetle
- Garden leaf beetle
- Rhino Beetle
Of these, May and June beetles, garden leaf beetles, rose beetles and rhinoceros beetles are mainly found in the garden.
Why is the distinction so important?
Being able to differentiate the grub species makes sense both for wise garden management and for general nature conservation. Depending on the species, the beetle larvae are harmful or useful for the garden. In addition, some - useful - species enjoy special protection status under the Federal Nature Conservation Act. These primarily include rose and rhinoceros beetles. Harming, capturing or killing them in any of their developmental forms is strictly punishable.
Identifying characteristics of the different species
With a trained eye, species of grubs can be identified by their appearance, but also by their lifestyle and behavior.
Cockchafer grubs
They are one of the most harmful grub species that attack the roots of living plants such as grass or vegetable plants such as lettuce, kohlrabi and turnips. The larvae reach an average length of around 5-6 centimeters and are curved in a C-shape, typical of grubs. The abdomen is only slightly thickened and dark in contrast to the otherwise yellowish-light body. At the front, behind the brown colored head, there are 3 pairs of legs with typical bends. Because they only feed on living plant material, they are never found in compost heaps.
June beetle grubs
June beetle grubs are difficult to distinguish from May beetle grubs. However, due to their harmfulness, they must be de alt with in the same way. At 5-7 centimeters, they can grow slightly larger, but have virtually the same coloring - they can best be distinguished from the May beetle grubs by their method of locomotion: in contrast to the sideways and snaking crawling May beetle larvae, they move on their stomachs.
Garden leaf beetle grubs
The larvae of the garden leaf beetle, which is also harmful, are very small: they are only about one centimeter long. The adult beetles are even smaller. However, due to their small size, their harmful effects are negligible.
Rose beetle grubs
The rose beetle larvae, which are useful because they eat dead material, are medium-sized, around 3 centimeters long. Their abdomen is not thickened, but actually tapers somewhat. The front pairs of legs are very short. Overall, they have a very thick-fleshed body. The color is completely beige-yellowish. Their locomotion in the supine position is characteristic and interesting.
Rhino Beetle Grubs
They are the largest of the grubs found in this country: they can grow up to an impressive 10 centimeters long. Another distinguishing feature, which is negligible given its striking size, is the missing row of thorns on the abdomen.
