June bugs have a life cycle that typically spans about three years, but their adult stage lasts less than one year. Most of their life is spent underground as larvae (white grubs), feeding on plant roots for 1 to 4 years depending on the species. After pupating for about three weeks, the adult June bugs emerge from the soil in late spring or early summer (May to June), live for a few months during the warm season to mate and lay eggs, and then die by the end of summer or early fall
. In summary:
- Total life cycle: ~3 years (varies by species)
- Larval stage underground: 1 to 4 years
- Pupal stage: about 3 weeks
- Adult lifespan: less than 1 year, usually a few months in summer
- Adults emerge in late spring/early summer, die by late summer or early fall
Thus, while June bugs live for several years in total, the adult beetles you see flying around only live for a short period under one year.
