June is almost over but June bugs will stick around for a while. They are called June bugs because the adults come out of the soil at the end of spring or the beginning of the summer. Adult June bugs are called chafers and the larvae are called grubs. The grubs feed on the roots of grass and plants, while the adults feed on the foliage of shrubs and trees. Their diet also includes flowers, grass, fruit, food crops, sap and decaying organic material.
What is the Purpose of June Bugs
June bugs/beetles have a unique life cycle. Female June bugs will bury eggs below the surface and the larvae will hatch within 3 to 4 weeks. They will feed on the plant roots for several months and up to three years. The larvae then grow into pupae and 3 weeks later they are adult June bugs. This means they can be pests for a long time! June bugs are nocturnal and are attracted to light which makes outdoor lights a popular gathering place for them. They can make summer nights unpleasant when they bump and bang against window screens because they are attracted to the light inside your home. They feed from dusk through the evening hours to avoid predators. June bugs can fly, and you can typically see them swarming around street lamps. If you leave your window open, you’ll find yourself cleaning them up in the morning. The good news is that the are completely harmless to humans because they don’t bite, sting or spread disease. Because they are beetles, they have shiny wing covers, called elytra. June bugs can be ½ to 5/8 inches long when fully grown. Common June bugs are reddish-brown in color. The ‘Green June Beetle’ have a head, legs and under-body that is shiny green, and they have a gold contrast on their sides.
How to Keep June Bugs Away from Your House
June bugs can destroy vegetation, so you do not want them in your garden. Signs that you’re dealing with June bugs are patches of dead grass or damaged plants. Unfortunately, if you see adult June bugs, it may be too late to do anything that will help much. Long periods of light exposure will kill June bugs, but eggs and grubs must be killed to get rid of them. A traditional method of getting rid of them is to place an open jar with a white light at the opening if it. Next, pour vegetable oil in the jar and leave the jar open. The bugs will be attracted to the light, fly into the jar and will be unable to fly once they are covered in oil. Exterior lighting can also be adjusted to reduce encounters with June bugs.
Pest Control & Prevention in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
There are products that can be used to eliminate larvae and the appearance of adults the next season. It’s a good idea to contact professionals because many of these products can damage your lawn. Professional pest control can also create a barrier to keep crawling insects away from your home. Contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control today.
