Wednesday, June 3, 2020

June Bugs: Are They Really Harmful to Lawns?

Every morning, you step out onto your porch, and without fail... CRUNCH! Another June bug just became the victim of 'wrong place, wrong time.' But let's face it, it just wouldn’t be early summer in Lake of the Ozarks without June bugs flying around your porch light at night and then meeting an untimely ending the next morning. 

These beetles are common throughout the state of Missouri, but how much do we know about these interesting creatures? Are they dangerous to humans? No. Are they harmful to lawns? Absolutely! A B Pest Control and Insulation is here to help you learn more about these beetles with a few interesting tidbits that can help you protect your lawn and garden:


What do June bugs look like?
June bugs, also known as May beetles, get their name from emerging in large quantities in June. They are a blackish or mahogany-colored beetle. Although they are called a bug, they are not technically a bug, but actually part of a different insect order, a beetle. They are part of the scarab beetle family. Scarab beetles are a large family of heavy-bodied, oval beetles with about 30,000 species. The larvae are whitish with heads that are often brownish. They are C-shaped with three pairs of legs. They are typically between ½ - 1 inch as adults and between ¾ - 2 inches as larvae.

What stages do the June bug go through?
June bugs have four different stages of development: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Eggs are laid in the ground and can live for two to three years underground as a larva before surfacing to become an adult. Their total life span is up to four years.

Where can June bugs be found?
During the day, they tend to hide out in trees and other vegetation. At night, they can be found flying clumsily around bright lights, or feeding from the leaves of trees or bushes. As larvae, also known as white grub, they remain burrowed underground until they become adults.

What do June bugs eat?
The larvae live underground and feed on the roots of grasses and other plants. As an adult, they eat the leaves of deciduous trees, such as walnut and oak, and many other plants and bushes. These bugs, although harmless to humans, can damage your grass and trees, which is why it's important to target the grubs early on.

Signs of a June bug problem
There are a few indicators that let you know that you may have a problem either with adult June bugs or their larvae:
  • You have brown patches in your lawn.
  • Small holes are being dug in your lawn overnight. These holes are often made by skunks searching for grubs, which are a food source for them.
  • Moles also eat grubs, so, if you have a mole problem, the source of it may be a grub problem.
  • Holes are being chewed in the leaves of some of your plants.
  • Monitor your landscape for such signs and follow up upon their detection by confirming the presence of these insects.

How to get rid of June bugs.
June bugs are harmless to people, but can damage your garden or landscaping. There are several DIY ways you can reduce the population, such as inviting predator type animals (birds, toads, snakes) into your lawn or turning out the lights at night to avoid attracting them. If your problem is more than a natural DIY option can contain, applying an insecticide to the soil will help control grubs and in turn, prevent high numbers of the adults. A B Pest Control and Insulation can help you avoid the hassle of dealing with June bug infestations. Call 573-964-1100 today or visit our website to request a free quote.

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1 comment:

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