Processes within pasture and crop ecosystems: Effects of grass grub infestations on pasture

[First paragraphs...]
In considering the effects produced on pasture areas by infestations of grass grub, it is important to bear in mind certain aspects of its biology:
The insect commonly known as grass grub is the melolonthine beetle (Costelytra zealandica). Other species of the same sub-family are sometimes also found in pasture, especially species of Pyronota (manuka beetle). The economic importance of these is however minor and this paper is concerned solely with C. zealandica.