×

How to Get Rid of Grub Worms in Your House

Mason Howard

A couple of bugs now and then do not typically cause problems, but an infestation can feel like a nightmare. Grub worms rarely make their way into a home, as they prefer living in soil and destroying the roots of plants. Some factors can, however, invite grub worms in.

Excessive heat, for example, may draw them into the cool areas of a house. Grub worms can also enter through the openings of poorly sealed basements. Take steps to eliminate grub worms before they turn into their Japanese beetle forms and cause even more damage.

  1. Dig up the soil in several locations around the house to identify areas where larvae are being established. Grub worms coming inside start in the soil outside. Treat the soil to treat the source. Dig approximately 4 inches deep and sift through the soil to look for the small worms.

  2. Introduce nematodes to the soil in the affected areas. Nematodes feed on larvae, making it important to introduce them to the soil while the grub worms are still in their larva stage. Find spray-on nematode colonies from garden suppliers.

  3. Seal any places around the basement, foundation or exterior walls where grub worms may be coming in. Fill cracks and any gaps around vents, ducts or pipes with caulk. Adhere weather stripping to the insides of doors and windows.

  4. Invite insect-eating birds to your yard. Ways to attract birds include birdhouses, garden ponds, birdbaths and lush vegetation. Chickens will also munch on and help eradicate the population of grub worms.

The Drip Cap

  • A couple of bugs now and then do not typically cause problems, but an infestation can feel like a nightmare.
  • Grub worms rarely make their way into a home, as they prefer living in soil and destroying the roots of plants.
  • Adhere weather stripping to the insides of doors and windows.
  • Chickens will also munch on and help eradicate the population of grub worms.