50+ Lifestyles

June Bugs

By Eloise Graham

On May 6 of this year, I had a June Bug dive-bomb my back door. I thought he was a little early. Everything else had seemed late this year. So I decided to do a little research on this insect.

June bugs, also known as June Beetles, are a genus of beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae of the family Scaranaeidae. Put simply, June Bugs are a part of the Scarab beetle family.

The good news is that June Bugs are harmless to people and pets. They don’t bite, sting or carry diseases. The bad news is that the adult bug feeds on trees and shrubs causing damage to landscaping. But even more harmful are the grubs, an early cycle of the insect. The grubs live underground and feed on the roots of the plants, harming the plant.

The beetle is nocturnal but attracted to light. In the evening, if you are sitting inside with the lights on, the bug will “dive-bomb” your windows. The noise can certainly startle you on a quiet night. It’s not that they are really dive-bombing, they are just clumsy fliers aiming toward the light.

Some often asked questions about June Bugs

Why are they called June Bugs? They are most abundant in June. However, some of the southern states refer to them as May Bugs. By mid to late summer, their numbers are dwindling. That’s when the female will burrow into the dirt to lay her eggs. By fall, the June Bugs’ life cycle has come to an end and they all die off.

Where do they go during the day? They hide under leaves or in the bark of trees.

Are June Bugs blind? No. Many people think the bug to be blind because it constantly bumps into things whenflying or walking. They aren’t blind, just clumsy, awkward organisms.

Why do I find them dead under my porch light? While they seem to be attracted to light, exposure for long intervals of time is responsible for killing them. They are usually found dead in the morning under porch lights and windows.

What is the larva called? The June Bug larvae is called white grubs. It is considered excellent fish bait. In South America, Australia and Asia it is a staple in the diets of the native people.