June Bug (specifically a May-June Beetle)
Scientific Name: Phyllophaga species
Order & Family: Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae
Size: 12 mm to 25 mm (0.5 to 1.0 inch) in length
Natural Habitat
Found in lawns, gardens, and woodlands throughout North America. Often seen around porch lights at night.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on the foliage of trees and shrubs; larvae (grubs) live underground and eat the roots of grasses and seedlings.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal insects that are highly attracted to artificial light. They have a clumsy, buzzing flight pattern. The life cycle involves a 1-3 year larval stage under the soil before emerging as adults in late spring or early summer.
Risks & Benefits
They are harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting. However, the larvae can be significant pests to lawns and crops by destroying root systems. They serve as a vital food source for birds, skunks, and other wildlife.
Identified on: 5/23/2026