White Grub/ Chafer Beetle

Symptom

The grubs are subterranean and actively feed on living roots. Crops with tap root systems suffer more than those with adventitious root systems.  In annuals, such as groundnut, sesame, sudden wilting is the earliest symptom. In cases of attack by adult beetles, the affected plants are defoliated. Field infestations of white grub are detected by surveying the host trees after the pre-monsoon rains. Similarly, damage by grubs in standing crops is detected by yellowing and wilting of plants in patches. Such wilted plants can be easily pulled out and grub damage to the entire root system can be observed. The grubs can be found near the root systems of such plants.