June Bugs

They’re baaaack! Here in Central PEI, the first Hummingbird and the first June Bug arrived within a couple of days of each other last week. Most people look forward to seeing the tiny birds far more than they do the shiny insects, but what exactly are June Bugs anyway? Let’s take a look!

“June Bug” is a general term used to refer to many different species in the Scarab Beetle Family (Scarabaeidae). The ones found most often on PEI are the native Phyllophaga anxia, although at least six other varieties have been recorded here.

These nocturnal insects are relatively large (about an inch long), attracted to light, and not the most graceful fliers. As result, most of us are familiar with the sound of June Bugs bumping into our outdoor lights, screens, and windows at night. The beetles also bump into us, their spiny legs getting hooked into clothing and hair, making them the bane of entomophobes everywhere. While we may not appreciate June Bugs, our dogs and cats sure do: pet owners know the distinctive crunch of one being eaten (often followed by the sound of it being regurgitated!).

June Bugs are the adult form of an insect with a multi-year life cycle. Over the course of a month or two, June Bugs mate and each female lays up to 100 eggs in the soil. Those eggs hatch into larvae (aka grubs) which live underground for two years, munching on the roots of grasses and other plants throughout that time. In their third year, June Bug larvae pupate into adults, spend one final winter in the soil, and emerge as the familiar beetles the following spring.

Having an entire year’s population emerge at once has an advantage: their sheer numbers overwhelm predators, guaranteeing many June Bugs will survive to reproduce. As adults, June Bugs are eaten by all sorts of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and spiders. During their larval stage, June Bug grubs are dug up and eaten by Skunks, Raccoons, Crows, and Ravens (if you see these animals digging your lawn, thank them for their pest control services).  Of course, June Bug adults and larvae are edible for humans, too, if you want to give them a try.

June Bugs can be pests of lawns, but they also contribute useful ecological services including soil aeration and nutrient cycling, in addition to being an energy-rich food source. Like it or not, the appearance of June Bugs is an annual and useful part of PEI Untamed!