Description: Adults are black or brownish-black snout beetles about ½" long, usually covered with clay or soil particles. The larvae are dirty white, legless, with a brown head. Mature larvae are about ½" long.

Hosts: Most species of grass, but zoysiagrass and bermudagrass seem to be preferred.

Damage: Both adults and larvae feed on grasses. Larvae feed at or below the soil-thatch interface, mostly eating roots. Adults feed at or above the crown and usually spend the daytime in the thatch layer. Infested grass shows irregular yellowing patterns, where the tops of the grass can easily be pulled up. Damage to zoysiagrass in the spring can be severe and limit the harvest of sod.

Life Cycle: There are several generations per year, with adults active all year long. Any stage may overwinter. Eggs are laid in grass stems, with 1st instar larvae boring down the stem to the root collar before emerging to feed in the soil.

Hunting Billbugs larva
Photo by: CSSA Turfgrass-Insects Slide set

Hunting Billbugs
Photo by: UGA Archives