Ten white grub larvae (third instar) were found in the sandy rhizospheres of Acacia nilotica ssp. nilotica seedlings irrigated with saline water of EC: 9.23 and 12.81dS.m-1 for more than two months in Biosalinity Experimental Field, department of Botany, University of Karachi. These larvae were incubated in laboratory. The soil was once sprinkled with tap water to maintain moisture level. After eight days the eight of the larvae died but two turned up into pupa which after around six to eight days gave rise to adult leaf chafer beetle. This organism on the basis of external morphology and genitalia was identified as Adoretus versutus Harold, 1869) - a serious pest on rose and several other plants. The grubs appeared to be tolerant to moderate level of salinity
D. Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Sahito, Imtiaz Ahmad. (2013) THE OCCURRENCE OF WHITE GRUB [ADORETUS VERSUTUS HAROLD 1869] IN THE SANDY RHIZOSPHERE OF ACACIA NILOTICA SUBSP. NILOTICA SEEDLINGS IRRIGATED WITH MODERATELY SALINE WATER, , Volume 10, Issue 2.
