Which of the following pests is NOT known to cause root damage to turf?

Ants are typically not known for causing root damage to turf. While they can disrupt the soil structure and create mounds that can affect surface level plants, their feeding habits do not directly harm the roots like some other pests.

In contrast, the other pests listed have specific behaviors that lead to root damage. For example, Japanese beetles' larvae, commonly known as grubs, feed on grass roots, leading to weakened turf. Mole crickets are also notorious for tunneling through the soil, disturbing and damaging roots as they feed on them. Green June beetles, in their larval stage, can also feed on the roots of grass, resulting in similar detrimental effects. Thus, the correct distinction is that while ants may impact the overall condition of the turf, they do not specifically cause root damage like the other options.