A white grub feeds on a root. / Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167

White grubs, the larvae of Wisconsin’s native May/June beetles (Phyllophaga spp.), can cause significant damage to forest plantings.

To help those who plan to plant seedlings and saplings, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Forest Health team has produced a fact sheet on white grubs, aimed specifically at forest plantings.

The debut brings the list of Forest Health fact sheets to 25 in total. The lineup includes 22 fact sheets on insects, diseases and environmental events that impact forest health, and three fact sheets on invasive plants.

The white grubs fact sheet includes a timeline covering the insects’ three-year life cycle, and notes on the insects’ impact on plantings, their biology and signs and symptoms of infestation. It also offers a method to predict damage from white grubs, and management options.

The front page of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ 2025 fact sheet on White Grubs and Forest Plantings. / Graphic Credit: Wisconsin DNR