Phyllophaga spp.
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Description
The adult beetles are 1/2 to 3/4 inch (12 - 19 mm) long, robust, and usually light to dark brown. There are about 200 known species of May beetles, June beetles or "daw bugs".
Damage
May beetles sometimes defoliate pecan trees in the spring. Small trees surrounded by uncultivated land are most susceptible to injury. The beetles feed at night on young leaves and newly opened buds. In the daytime, they lie hidden just beneath the surface of the ground.
Seasonal History
The life cycle of this group of insects varies from one to four years, depending upon species. The three-year cycle is by far the most common. Most overwintering populations of May beetles consist of adults that have not yet taken their first flight from the soil and of larvae, usually of two distinct sizes. When the adults emerge in the early spring, they feed and mate. They lay their eggs in the ground and larvae, known as white grubs, feed on the foots of plants, particularly grasses.
When to Control
Control measures are seldom necessary. Pastures near groves are a source of infestation, but if the soil is plowed once a year, May beetles are not numerous. Beetles on small trees may be shaken onto sheets on the ground at night and destroyed.
