Turf-pest
Guides
Amphimallon majale
European chafer
A scarab beetle native to continental Europe, now invasive in temperate North America where it is commonly called a June bug. The large, white larvae (grubs) feed on grass roots and are significant pests of lawns and turfgrass. Adults are short-lived and primarily reproductive. The species has been introduced to Canada and the United States, where it lacks natural population controls.
Anomala orientalis
Oriental beetle, OB
A small scarab beetle native to eastern Asia, now established as an invasive pest in the northeastern United States. Adults are 7–11 mm long with mottled metallic brown and black elytra, often confused with the larger Japanese beetle. The species is notable for its subterranean lifestyle—larvae feed on plant roots while adults emerge briefly to feed on flowers and foliage. Sexual communication relies on a specific sex pheromone blend that has been chemically characterized and exploited for monitoring and control. Heavy infestations can damage turfgrass, ornamental plantings, and agricultural crops including sugarcane, maize, and pineapple.
Chrysoteuchia topiarius
Topiary Grass-veneer, Subterranean Sod Webworm, Cranberry Girdler
Chrysoteuchia topiarius is a small crambid moth with a wingspan of 17–20 mm, distributed across most of North America. Adults are active from late June to early August in a single annual generation. The species is known by multiple common names reflecting its larval habits: subterranean sod webworm refers to its grass-feeding larvae that live in silk-lined tunnels, while cranberry girdler indicates damage to cranberry plants. The species was first described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1866.
Crambus laqueatellus
Eastern Grass-veneer
Crambus laqueatellus, commonly known as the Eastern Grass-veneer, is a moth species in the family Crambidae. It was described by James Brackenridge Clemens in 1860. The species is widespread across eastern and central North America, with adults active from spring through late summer. Larvae are grass-feeders, making this species a typical member of the grass-veneer group within Crambus.
Hylephila phyleus
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus, commonly known as the Fiery Skipper, is a small butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. Adults are approximately 2.5 cm long, with males displaying orange or yellow coloration with black spots and females appearing dark brown with orange or yellow spots. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range including North America, the Caribbean, Middle America, and Oceania. It is known to be active in late winter through fall, with records from January through November in California. The caterpillars feed on various grasses and are sometimes considered pests of turf grasses.
Maladera formosae
Asiatic garden beetle
Maladera formosae, the Asiatic garden beetle, is an invasive scarab beetle native to East Asia that was introduced to North America in 1921. It has become a significant agricultural pest, particularly in the Great Lakes region where it damages field corn, soybeans, and commercial mint. The species exhibits a univoltine life cycle with soil-dwelling larvae that feed on plant roots and nocturnal adults that consume foliage and flowers. Both life stages cause economically important damage, with larvae responsible for early-season crop losses and adults defoliating ornamental and crop plants.
Myzininae
Myzininae is a subfamily of aculeate wasps within the family Thynnidae (formerly placed in Tiphiidae). The subfamily is best known through the genus Myzinum, which exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism. Females are robust, fossorial parasitoids of scarab beetle grubs, while males are slender, non-stinging, and frequently observed on flowers. Species in this subfamily are found primarily in the Nearctic region, with ten recognized species north of Mexico.
Neoscapteriscus
mole crickets
Neoscapteriscus is a genus of two-clawed mole crickets (Gryllotalpidae) containing at least 23 described species. Members are subterranean insects with fossorial forelegs adapted for tunneling. Several species are significant turfgrass and pasture pests in the Americas, including the tawny mole cricket (N. vicinus) and southern mole cricket (N. borellii). The genus was established by Cadena-Castañeda in 2015, separating these species from the related genus Scapteriscus.
Popillia japonica
Japanese Beetle
Popillia japonica is a scarab beetle native to Japan that has become one of the most destructive invasive pests in North America since its accidental introduction to New Jersey in 1916. Adults feed on foliage, flowers, and fruits of over 300 plant species, while larvae (grubs) damage roots of turf grasses and other plants. The species has established populations throughout the eastern United States and Canada, with recent expansions into the Midwest and detections in western states. Climate modeling predicts continued northward range expansion.