What Do June Beetles Look Like?

June beetles, also known as June bugs, have a distinctive appearance that makes them fairly recognizable. Here’s a detailed description:

• Size: Adult June beetles are usually between 12 to 25 millimeters (about 0.5–1 inch) long, though this can vary by species.
• Color: Most species are reddish-brown to dark brown on top, with a shiny, hard exoskeleton. Some may appear almost black. The underside is typically lighter.
• Body Shape: They have a broad, oval, and slightly convex body, giving them a robust look.
• Wings: They possess two pairs of wings. The front pair (elytra) is hard and protects the membranous hind wings used for flying.
• Legs: Their legs are spiny and adapted for digging, which is useful when laying eggs in the soil or when larvae (grubs) burrow underground.
• Antennae: June beetles have clubbed antennae, which can fan out into leaf-like structures used for sensing pheromones.

If you see one at night, it may be attracted to lights, which is a common behavior for June beetles.

Where Are June Beetles Found?

June beetles are most commonly found in areas that provide suitable conditions for both the adult beetles and their larval stage (grubs):

• Lawns and Gardens: The grubs live underground in soil, feeding on roots of grass, ornamental plants, and crops. Areas with well-irrigated, healthy lawns are particularly attractive because the soil is soft and full of roots. Grub activity often leads to patchy brown spots in lawns where grass dies off.
• Fields and Agricultural Areas: June beetles are common in cornfields, pastures, and other crop areas, because larvae feed on roots and adults feed on foliage. They can occasionally cause noticeable damage in crops like corn, soybeans, or small grains.
• Wooded and Shady Areas: Adults may be found on trees, shrubs, and other plants, especially at night, because many species are nocturnal. They are attracted to tree leaves, fruit trees, and ornamental shrubs where they feed lightly.
• Near Lights: Adult June beetles are strongly attracted to lights at night, so you may see them around porch lights, streetlights, or outdoor lighting in late spring and early summer.
• Soil Type: Soft, sandy, or loamy soil is ideal for laying eggs, so areas with well-drained soil are more likely to host grubs.

You’re most likely to encounter grubs underground in lawns and gardens, while the flying adults are common near lights, trees, and shrubs, particularly in late spring to early summer.

What Do June Beetles Eat?

June beetles have distinct feeding habits depending on whether they are adults or larvae (grubs), because their diets differ significantly:

Adult June Beetles

• Diet Type: Primarily foliage feeders.
• What They Eat: Leaves of deciduous trees like oak, maple, and fruit trees. Shrubs and ornamental plants in gardens and landscapes. Occasionally, flowers and soft fruits, though this is less common.
• Feeding Behavior: Adults generally feed at night (nocturnal) and can cause light to moderate leaf damage. They do not usually eat roots.

Larvae (White Grubs)

• Diet Type: Root feeders, which makes them more destructive.
• What They Eat: Grass roots in lawns and turf. Roots of garden plants, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Roots of crops such as corn, soybeans, and small grains in agricultural areas.
• Feeding Behavior: They live underground for 1–3 years, depending on the species, gradually consuming roots and sometimes killing the plants in the process. Lawn damage often appears as brown patches that pull up easily, as grubs sever the roots.

June Beetle Life Cycle

The life cycle of June beetles (or June bugs) is a multi-stage process that typically spans one to three years, depending on the species. Understanding their life cycle is key to controlling them effectively, since different stages occupy different environments and cause different types of damage:

Egg Stage

• Timing: Eggs are usually laid in late spring to early summer by adult females.
• Location: Eggs are deposited in the soil, often in lawns, gardens, or fields with rich, loose soil.
• Appearance: Small, white or cream-colored, oval eggs.
• Duration: Eggs hatch in about 2–6 weeks, depending on soil temperature and moisture.

Larval Stage (Grubs)

• Appearance: Creamy-white, C-shaped grubs with a brown head and six legs near the front.
• Diet: Feed on roots of grasses, crops, and ornamental plants, which is the stage that causes the most noticeable damage.
• Habitat: Live underground, usually in the top few inches of soil.
• Duration: This stage can last 1–3 years, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
• Behavior: Grubs burrow through soil, weakening plant roots. Lawn damage appears as brown patches that can be pulled up easily.

Pupal Stage

• Timing: Typically occurs late spring, after the larvae have matured.
• Location: Pupation happens in the soil, in a small chamber created by the larva.
• Duration: Lasts a few weeks. During this time, the grub transforms into an adult beetle.

Adult Stage

• Appearance: Reddish-brown to dark brown, oval-shaped beetles, ½–1 inch long.
• Diet: Adults feed on leaves of trees and shrubs at night.
• Behavior: Nocturnal and attracted to lights. Adults usually live for 1–2 months, during which they mate and lay eggs, completing the cycle.
• Timing: Most adults appear in late spring to early summer, which is why they’re called “June beetles.”