A June bug, also known as a June beetle or May beetle, is a type of beetle that belongs to the genus Phyllophaga and is part of the Melolonthinae subfamily of scarab beetles. They are commonly referred to as June bugs because the adult insects emerge from the soil in late May or early June. There are around 260 different types of June bugs that each pose a different kind of threat, but the most common types are the Common June Bug and the Green June Bug. Key features of June bugs include:
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Appearance: June bugs are heavy-bodied beetles that vary in size from 12 to 35 millimeters and in color from blackish to mahogany. They have no markings and have a hairy texture on their under-bodies.
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Diet: June bugs are nocturnal and feed on foliage and flowers at night, sometimes causing considerable damage. Their diet can also encompass grass, flowers, fruit, food crops such as grains (wheat, corn, etc.), sap, and decaying organic material.
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Life cycle: The June bug life cycle has the four stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult, similar to other beetles. Eggs are laid in soil, which is also where the larval and pupal stages occur. Adults occur above ground. The larval stage is long and may last up to two years, whereas the adult stage is short and lasts only a few days or weeks.
June bugs can cause damage to gardens, lawns, and pastures, and their larvae can destroy crops and kill lawns and pastures by severing grasses from their roots.
