Las Cruces Yard Guide
Lawn Grubs, Grub Treatment and Other Lawn Pests in Las Cruces
When a Bermuda lawn browns in patches, people often blame bugs. Usually it’s water. But sometimes grubs are eating the roots, or armyworms chew through the lawn after a monsoon storm. Here’s how to tell whether pests are really the problem, check for them in five minutes, and treat only when it’s worth it.
Updated September 2026 using NMSU and Colorado State University Extension guidance.
Quick answer
How do I know if grubs are killing my lawn?
Tug on the grass at the edge of a brown patch. If it peels up like carpet with few roots and you find C-shaped, creamy white grubs with brown heads in the soil, grubs are eating the roots. Animals digging in the lawn are another sign.
If the grass holds firm and the soil is dry, the problem is water, not grubs. Check that first; it’s the most common cause of brown patches in Las Cruces.
Which lawn pest is it?
|
What you see |
Likely pest |
|---|---|
|
Turf lifts like carpet, C-shaped grubs |
White grubs |
|
Grass chewed down fast after rain |
Armyworms |
|
Stems break at base, sawdust-like frass |
Billbugs |
|
Holes dug by skunks or birds |
Grubs below |
|
Dry soil, grass holds firm |
Not bugs: water |
White grubs
What are lawn grubs and when do they cause damage?
White grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles like masked chafers and May or June beetles. Adults lay eggs in early summer, and the grubs feed on grass roots through late summer and fall, when damage shows up as brown patches that don’t respond to water.
What do grubs look like?
Creamy white, C-shaped, up to about an inch long, with a reddish-brown head and three pairs of legs.
Why does the lawn look dry?
Grubs eat the roots, so the grass can’t take up water and looks drought-stressed even when watered.
Why are animals digging?
Skunks, raccoons and birds dig up lawns to eat grubs, which often reveals the problem.
Grub identification, life cycle and thresholds from Colorado State University Extension, Billbug and White Grub Management in Lawns. Local pest list from NMSU Circular 607.
Check first
How do I check my lawn for grubs?
Cut three sides of a one-foot square of turf at the edge of a brown area, fold it back and count the grubs in the top few inches. Colorado State notes nine or more masked chafer grubs per square foot can damage stressed turf.
1
Pick the edge
Sample where brown meets green, where grubs are actively feeding.
2
Cut a flap
Cut three sides of a one-foot square about 2 to 3 inches deep.
3
Fold and count
Peel it back and count grubs in the roots and top soil.
4
Check a few spots
Sample two or three areas for a fair average.
Treat
How do I get rid of lawn grubs?
Treat only if counts are high. Beneficial nematodes, which NMSU recommends for white grubs, are a low-toxicity option. Preventive products go on around midsummer egg hatch; rescue products target active grubs. A grub treatment service can count grubs first and time the treatment. Always follow the label.
|
Option |
When |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Beneficial nematodes |
When grubs are active; moist soil |
Low toxicity; apply in evening and water in |
|
Preventive grub control |
Midsummer, around egg hatch |
Stops young grubs; follow the label |
|
Curative (rescue) control |
Active feeding, late summer |
For heavy infestations found by sampling |
|
Better lawn care |
All season |
Deep watering and correct mowing help lawns recover |
Does overwatering attract grubs?
Moist soil during egg-laying helps grub survival. Deep, less frequent watering is better for the lawn and less friendly to grubs.
Will the lawn recover?
Bermuda usually recovers once grubs are controlled, with deep watering. Badly damaged patches may need re-sodding.
Other pests
What other pests damage lawns in Las Cruces?
Armyworms can strip a Bermuda lawn in days, often after monsoon rains in late summer. Billbugs damage Bermuda at the base of the stems. Both are less common than grubs or watering problems, so confirm what you have before treating.
How do I spot armyworms?
Grass chewed down in spreading patches, often with birds feeding. A soapy water drench on a square yard brings caterpillars to the surface.
How do I spot billbugs?
Stems that break off easily at the soil with sawdust-like material at the base. Adults are small snout beetles.
Are there biological options?
NMSU lists Bacillus thuringiensis and parasitic wasps for armyworms and nematodes for billbugs.
Prevention
How do I prevent lawn pest damage?
Keep the lawn healthy: water deeply and less often, mow Bermuda at the right height, fix sprinkler gaps, and avoid heavy nitrogen in late summer. Healthy turf tolerates more grubs, and dry surface soil in early summer reduces grub survival.
Still brown? Work through our brown lawn causes and fixes and the Bermuda lawn care guide.
Related services
Lawn grub FAQs
Not sure what’s eating your lawn?
We check water, coverage and pests, and only recommend treatment when your lawn actually needs it. Free, written estimate.
Las Cruces Landscaping Group
1921 Santa Ines Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011
(575) 270-0676. Mon to Sat, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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