Technical Name: Aphrodius tasmaniae
General:
Found in the lighter soils of Bay of Plenty Waikato Marlborough Hawkes Bay and Canterbury. Larvae graze pasture plants above the ground killing plants and leaving bare patches.
Adult beetles lay their eggs in or near dung from January-March. Eggs hatch into larvae which feed on dung for 4-6 weeks before moving onto pasture.
Identification:
White coloured grubs that are 15 mm long with six legs and a black head. When disturbed the larvae start crawling like caterpillars. They a nocturnal feeders living 10-15 cm below ground in vertical tunnels. Populations above two grubs per spade square (50/m_) will cause significant pasture loss. New pastures are particularly vulnerable to damage.