The adult black beetle is approximately 15mm long and has a black and sturdy appearance. As an adult it can be found throughout the year but most predominantly from the months of February though until October.
The adults burrow into the soil where they also consume the roots of grasses. The larvae are creamy white in colour with a black head and abdomen. They live in the top 10mm-50mm of the soil profile with most of the damage done from October through to March. You know if you have an infestation if your grass is dying in patches for no apparent reason and the lawns has a damaged root system, and the grass looks brown and discoloured. High bird activity is also a sign of insect infestation.