We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update!

November 15, 2020

We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update! The following post was originally published on April 15, 2020.

Immediately following the recent heavy storms, I was poking around in my yard and spotted this large beetle grub doing its best impression of Andy Dufresne after escaping from prison in "The Shawshank Redemption." Beetle grubs generally live in the topsoil where they eat the roots of plants. This poor fellow came topside so it wouldn't drown in the sodden earth. Because beetle larvae eat plant roots, they are generally considered a major lawn pest. If your yard has a large population of beetle grubs, you might even find yellow patches of grass that can be rolled back like a carpet. But which would you rather have, a pristine yard or a summer filled with awesome beetles to enjoy? I know which camp I'm in.

ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends.

NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!