Tasmanian grass grub

Distribution is limited to the northern North Island, Hawkes Bay, coastal Taranaki, Marlborough and the Canterbury plains

Adult beetles are dark brown/black, up to 12 mm long, fly in large numbers from January to March and are strongly attracted to lights

Larvae are soil dwellers but emerge from burrows at night to feed or move to new locations. In the soil they are usually curled in C shape but crawl readily when disturbed

Superficially larvae resemble common New Zeand grass grubs but behaviourally act more like porina, living in burrows and emerging at night to graze on above ground foliage

They feed on most pasture plants, pasture weeds and brassica seedlings but favour legumes including clovers and lucerne.