Head to head
Cockchafer vs June Beetle
Cockchafer
VS June Beetle
The cockchafer of Europe and the June beetles of North America are close ecological counterparts: stout, clumsy scarab beetles that blunder into lights and whose white grubs eat roots underground.
| Cockchafer | June Beetle | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Melolontha melolontha | Phyllophaga (a genus of dozens of species) |
| Adult appearance | A black thorax, brown wing cases, white triangular marks along the abdomen, and fan-shaped antennae | A stout, rounded, reddish-brown to dark brown body with a somewhat glossy sheen |
| Flight | A noisy, clumsy flier at dusk in spring, often blundering into lights and windows | A notably clumsy, heavy flier that bumps loudly into windows, screens, and porch lights at night |
| Adult food | The leaves of trees such as oak and beech | Tree and shrub foliage, eaten at night |
| Grub | White, curled grubs live in the soil for three or four years, feeding on the roots of grasses, cereals, and trees | A white grub that lives underground for one to three years depending on the species, feeding on plant roots |
| Pest status | Was once a serious pest of farms, orchards, and forests, and has declined as soil insecticides and changes in farming have spread | The grubs can damage lawns, pastures, and certain crops, sometimes killing patches of grass by severing roots |
| Range | Woodland edges, hedgerows, orchards, and grassland across Europe | Grassland and forest across a broad range of North America |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated globally, though much reduced in many areas | Least Concern |
Cockchafer vs June Beetle: common questions
Why is the cockchafer also called the May bug?
It is named for its habit of emerging in large numbers in spring, around May, and flying in the evening.
How long do their grubs live underground?
Cockchafer grubs live in the soil for three or four years, while June beetle grubs live underground for one to three years depending on the species.
Why do both fly into lights?
Both are clumsy night fliers that are drawn to artificial light, so they often bump into windows, screens, and lamps.