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Story: Beetles

Grass killed by grass grubs

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Grass killed by grass grubs

These patches of dead grass on Māngere Island – one of the Chatham Islands – have been damaged by grass grubs. The C-shaped larvae of grass grub beetles live in the soil and kill grass and other plants by eating their roots.

Using this item

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10050498

by Don Merton

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How to cite this page

John Marris, Beetles – Beetles and humans, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14385/grass-killed-by-grass-grubs (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by John Marris, published 1 March 2009.