A large brown-tan scarab beetle that crashes into porch lights on June evenings. Larvae are the infamous "white grubs" that damage lawns and golf courses.
§ Quick facts
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium-large reddish-brown beetle with hard wing covers; thick body; six legs each ending in two strong claws.
Similar species. Other Phyllophaga species (extreme diversity; expert ID required). Japanese Beetle (smaller; introduced; different markings).
Voice. Loud buzzing during flight.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Adults: tree leaves (oak, sycamore, sweet gum). Larvae ("white grubs"): roots of grasses and other plants; can be lawn pests.
Behavior. Familiar early-summer beetle of eastern North America. Adults emerge in late May or early June (the source of the "June bug" name) and feed on tree foliage for a few weeks before mating, laying eggs, and dying. Strongly attracted to lights; large numbers gather at porch lights, often causing screen-door collisions. Larvae are major turf pests, feeding on lawn roots and attracting moles and skunks that dig up lawns hunting them.
§ Range
Eastern and central US
§ Habitat
Lawns, gardens, fields with rich soil
§ Threats
Pesticide control programs, light pollution, secondary effects on grub-eaters (skunks, raccoons).
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the common june bug is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Reduce outdoor lighting. Skip lawn pesticides (they harm many beneficial insects). Tolerate occasional lawn damage.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Phyllophaga
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Phyllophaga sp.
- iNaturalist · taxon 49432
- IUCN Red List — search for Phyllophaga sp.
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Phyllophaga sp.
§ Sources cited
- BugGuide
- University of Florida IFAS Extension
- iNaturalist
