Pruinose scarab

Description. The pruinose scarab larva is a white to creamy-white soft-bodied grub, up to 20mm long with 3 sets of legs and a hard light brown head capsule. As with most scarab pests, the larvae can be difficult to identify between species as only subtle characteristics distinguish them from other beetle larvae.  When mature the adult beetle possesses a dark brown to black carapace up to 16mm long and has a unique set of antenna with have large club-like ends. The underside of the body is covered in short grey hairs.
Biology and Lifecycle. Adults emerge from pupation under the soil in early spring, and often fly to eucalyptus trees to mate before returning to the soil to lay 20-40 eggs. The larvae then hatch and burrow into the soil where they remain for a period of 8-10 months before emergence the following spring. Larvae will mainly eat decaying organic matter though in large numbers their minor feeding activities on plant roots can cause injury. Adults then hatch in spring and live fore 1-9 weeks.