May 28, 1999

    June bugs face many obstacles

On warm May and June nights we often hear low-pitched buzzing and banging noises as large brown beetles hit our screens and windows.

There are about 100 North American species of beetles in the group commonly called June bugs, June Beetles or even May beetles.  They usually are brown and are seen around street or yard lights in the spring and early summer.  The adults feed at night on foliage and flowers, and the larvae, known as white grubs, eat the roots of grasses and other plants.  White grubs can be destructive and damage pastures, lawns and crops such as corn, small grains, potatoes and strawberries.

The life cycle of a May beetle is usually three years, and there are many obstacles to their longevity.  Birds and mammals, especially skunks, root out the white grubs to eat, and the adult beetles are preyed upon by birds, flying squirrels and many other animals.