Invertebrates
June Beetle
Phyllophaga · also called june beetles, june bug, may beetle
A porch light draws in a heavy, clumsy beetle that bumps repeatedly against the screen door, a June beetle finally emerged as an adult after spending up to three quiet years underground feeding on grass roots as a larva.
Overview
The June beetle, genus Phyllophaga, is a widespread scarab beetle found in grassland and forest habitat across North America. Its slow-developing, root-feeding larval stage, clumsy nighttime flight toward artificial light, and reputation as a lawn pest make it one of the more familiar, if occasionally frustrating, insects most people encounter every summer.
Years underground for a few weeks above it
A June beetle spends the overwhelming majority of its life hidden underground as a slow-growing grub, only emerging as the noisy, light-drawn adult most people actually notice for a brief final stretch of its life cycle.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and abundant across suitable grassland and forest habitat throughout North America.
June Beetle: common questions
Why do June beetle larvae live underground for so long?
A June beetle larva, known as a white grub, spends one to three years underground feeding on plant roots before it has stored enough energy to pupate into an adult, a slow developmental process compared with many other insects.
Are June beetle grubs bad for lawns?
Yes, the root-feeding white grub stage can cause real damage to lawns, pastures, and certain crops, sometimes killing patches of grass by severing the roots underground before the grubs eventually mature into adult beetles.
Why does the June beetle fly so clumsily?
An adult June beetle is a notably heavy, stout-bodied flier compared with more agile insects, which contributes to its habit of bumping loudly into windows, screens, and porch lights as it is drawn toward artificial light sources at night.
Is the June beetle the same as the May beetle?
Yes, June beetle and May beetle are simply alternate common names for the same group of beetles, with the name used varying somewhat by region and by when the adults happen to emerge that particular year.