A reader wrote to us recently to inquire about some gross “things” she found in her yard. The things might more precisely be described as fat and white with brown heads, and the reader was wondering if she found some sort of worm or larvae. We are basically certain she found grubs, which are also called “lawn grubs” or “grub worms” (even though they are larvae), and below we provide a little more information about these creatures. The reader also mentioned that she is concerned about the “dangers they may pose for humans and pets,” so we’ll address this matter as well.

A few days ago, a reader sent us a picture of a fat white larva with a brown head. The larvae is quite plump, and its head looks like a small brown ball that is pressed into the end of the larva’s fat body. The reader sent in a couple of nice pictures of the larva in question, and asked us to identify what it might be. What is the fat white larva our reader is finding?