Green June Beetle
Scientific Name: Cotinis nitida
Order & Family: Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae
Size: 20 to 25 mm (0.75 to 1 inch) in length
Natural Habitat
Lawns, gardens, fields, and woodlands across the Eastern United States
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on thin-skinned fruits like peaches and grapes; larvae (grubs) eat organic matter and plant roots in the soil
Behavior Patterns
Active during the day with a loud buzzing flight; larvae are unique for crawling on their backs when on top of the soil
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by aerating soil and decomposing organic matter, but can be a pest to ripened fruit crops and turfgrass
Identified on: 6/27/2026