The first round of June bugs is making its way into Middle Tennessee, and while the little beetle with the cute summer name might seem every bit as adorable as said name might imply, it can bring destruction to plants and lawns, windows and porch screens.
The bugs emerge from the soil as temperatures warm, and they’re weak flyers, often crashing into windows and porch screens, lending them a “screen thumpers” nickname, according to Midhula Gireesh, assistant professor and extension specialist for the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology for the University of Tennessee Central District.
The nocturnal insect is also known as the scarab beetle and is between one-half to an inch long.
What are June bugs?
Beetles in the genus Phyllophaga are known as June bugs. Gireesh said they are also known as May or June beetles.
Adult beetles are commonly seen flying toward light during late spring and early summer evenings.
“The color of June bugs varies from reddish-brown to almost black… Depending on the species, June bugs have a life cycle of 1-2 years,” Gireesh said.
The emerging larvae of June bugs are known as white grubs.
Why are they called June bugs?
It’s not completely clear how the well-known moniker came about, but it’s likely connected to the fact that adult June bugs “emerge from the soil at the end of spring or the beginning of the summer,” according to Terminix, a pest control service.
What do June bugs do?
They spend most of their lives underground, in the soil feeding on grass roots, much like cicadas, another bug inundating Middle Tennessee, until they emerge to feed on greenery and hang out by nearby light sources, especially during evening or nighttime hours.
A June bug’s larval stages can be the most destructive to a person’s lawn and plants, Gireesh said, noting that feeding results in a yellowing or browning of vegetation, much like one would see during drought-like conditions.
“Heavy infestations can make the ground spongy to the step. More damage occurs when predators like moles, birds, skunks, raccoons or armadillos dig up the turf when hunting for the grubs,” Gireesh said.
A small number of June bugs can be beneficial to lawns, much like cicadas, because they tunnel into the ground to create soil aeration, Gireesh said.
“Excessive tunneling eventually damages the law by breaking the bond between plant roots and soil,” Gireesh said. “This makes it challenging for the turf to receive water and nutrients, resulting in serious damage.”
How do I keep June bugs away?
Before mitigation tactics are discussed, it’s best to make sure there is actually a June bug infestation.
Damage to turf grass and dead grass patches are a tell-tale sign that baby June bugs have been munching on the greenery in a yard or garden, Good Housekeeping reports.
A local pest control company can help control the population. Deterrent sprays, an electric light that targets insects, or commercial beetle traps are also available for do-it-yourselfers.
“The best way to prevent June bugs from devouring your lawn is by ‘”making it inhospitable to their larvae,”‘ according to Terminix. “You can help maintain a healthy lawn by overseeding thinned-out areas of your turf.”
USA TODAY reporter Amaris Encinas contributed to this report.