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Grub identification - Scarabaeiform!

James Freyr

steward

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Location: West Tennessee

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posted 6 years ago

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I was sampling some soil in the woods and uncovered this guy. I'm used to seeing white and light brown grubs, and have never seen a bright green grub. Any ideas?

IMG_20190205_153117588.jpg

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Bryant RedHawk

gardener

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Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5

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posted 6 years ago

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That is a Scarabaeiform (the family of Scarab beetles) larvae, it is probably in the June bug group (which includes the Japanese beetle).

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Tj Jefferson

pollinator

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Location: Virginia USDA 7a/b

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posted 6 years ago

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James, that is one odd looking grub! I have uncovered lots of them, especially the japanese beetle and green june beetle larvae, but never seen a green one. It is kind of cool, used to be mostly japanese beetles, now getting more june beetles which I think means my organic matter is gettting better! They are detritovores, versus the japanese beetles eating the roots.

I wonder if there is a source of copper or nickel giving that color?

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Bryant RedHawk

gardener

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Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5

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Interestingly enough Tj, there are members of the Scarabeiform family that are white, green (three or four shades of green even) and blue or azure colored.
I can't say whether or not soil mineral content has any bearing on the color of any of the larvae.

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