Lawn grubs, also known as white grubs, are the immature form of different scarab beetles, such as Japanese beetles, June "bugs" (beetles), or European chafers. They are C-shaped larvae that feed on the roots of turfgrass, which can cause patches of thinning turf that gradually increase in size. Here are some signs that you may have lawn grubs:

• Irregular brown patches in your lawn that can be easily pulled up.
• Spongy and yellowing grass that rolls back like a carpet.
• Presence of other pest species such as skunks, raccoons, and other digging pests that love to eat grubs and will destroy your lawn searching for them.

To get rid of grubs in your lawn, you can use natural predators, limit the moisture your lawn receives, deploy milky spore or beneficial nematodes, use neem oil, create a grub killer with borax, and dethatch and aerate your lawn. Conventional grub control methods include carbaryl and trichlorfon, which are chemicals used to reduce lawn grub populations. The best time to apply insecticides is in the early fall before it gets cold. You can also identify the presence of grubs by using a shovel or a lawn edger to make a cut in a one-foot section of your lawn where you suspect grub activity, and then peel up a one square-foot section of grass and soil from that cut. If there is significant grub damage, the grass should peel up quite easily.