June means June Bugs!

Is it true what they say? June Bugs show up in June? I’ve always noticed them crowding my porch and window sills sometime in the summer, and wanted to know what the deal was. So I did some research. Here’s what I discovered.

June Bugs are Destructive Beetles!

These beetles, adult and larval, feed on economic crops and cause some financial loss; however, the grubs tunneling for feed and the adults’ burrowing into the soil each night cause more serious destruction. The tunneling uproots young plants. The many exit holes of the adults and larvae resemble ant hills and mar lawns and golf course greens. They sounds annoying already.

These grubs also sometimes attack vegetables and other garden plants, e.g. lettuce, raspberry, strawberry and young ornamental trees. Plants growing in rows are usually attacked in succession as the grubs move along from one plant to the next.

Those of us who aren’t farmers or gardeners may not care. However, they tend to linger everywhere in the summertime. Why? Because they are capable of multiplying really fast. A female is capable of laying 60 to 75 eggs in two weeks. It is during fall that adult June bugs lay their eggs. These eggs, after around two to three weeks, hatch into larvae, and become very active during spring.

How to Get Rid of June Bugs

To get rid of the bugs, you can try pesticides. If you wanted to go a more natural way, you can try nematodes. If you will be using nematodes, you will have to wait until the time when June bugs lay their eggs. Nematodes are grub parasites. They live inside the bodies of the larvae and eventually kill them. Nematodes can be easily purchased at gardening stores.

Another way is to attract other natural predators – predators like toads and songbirds. Birds and toads love feasting on grubs. Not only will your garden be lively and natural, you also get rid of those pests with the help of the birds.