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Billbugs

Billbug damage is being found in central Illinois. Affected turf wilts and turns brown; individual plants have few roots and pull easily. There may be sawdustlike material at the base of the plants. In the root zone to several inches below the surface, you can find the 1/4 inch long white, stocky, legless larvae with brown heads. Adults also are present. They are blackish, about 3/16 inch long with the mouthparts elongated into a long snout. Billbugs are more common in sodded lawns. They are controlled in the same way as white grubs.


Author: Phil Nixon

 

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