The June beetle is the smaller brother of the May beetle. Unlike the related species, the June beetle causes less damage. These can vary from region to region and occasionally assume large proportions. Targeted and environmentally friendly control is often the only way out.

The June beetle looks confusingly similar to the May beetle

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Fight
  3. June beetle in the room
  4. Prevent
  5. Characteristics
  6. risk of confusion
  7. food
  8. habitat
  9. way of life
  10. vermin or useful
  11. damage picture
  12. frequently asked Questions

    13. the essentials in brief

    • June beetles are best controlled with nematodes or fungi - but only in the larval stage
    • Mowing and scarifying can prevent infestation in the lawn
    • June beetle larvae feed on plant roots, making them crooked and eventually dying

    Fight June beetles

    Combating adult beetles is often not effective, since the grubs continue to develop in the soil. To stop the beetles from spreading, you need to take targeted measures against the grubs.

    The larvae need 100 percent humidity. They cannot survive on the soil surface because they dry up immediately. If you discover the first signs of a pest infestation, you should loosen and aerate the lawn thoroughly. With a tiller you can completely destroy the larvae population. However, this destroys the entire soil structure, which is why other control methods make more sense.

    nematodes

    Nematodes are tiny worms that eat the June beetle larvae from the inside

    An effective remedy are special roundworms, which are used against June beetles. The microscopic creatures are only 0.6 millimeters long and occur naturally in the soil. Of the nematodes, the species Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is one of the natural enemies of the June beetle.

    Control with nematodes only makes sense in the first larval stage, since the grubs are no longer susceptible to the roundworms after they have molted. The nematodes penetrate the living larvae, feed on the cell tissue and multiply in the organism. Within two days the grub dies and the nematodes leave the host to infest other larvae. It takes up to six weeks for this control method to be most effective.

    tips

    Nematodes should be applied between August and September. The earlier you start fighting, the easier it is for the roundworms to multiply.

    application

    There are special powders with live nematodes that are mixed with water and applied to the affected areas in specialist shops. Always mix the entire contents of the bag with water as the nematodes are not evenly distributed in the powder. Stir the solution thoroughly before bottling to prevent the nematodes from settling to the bottom.

    Pour the required amount into a watering can and pour the solution onto the affected areas. If the soil is very dry, it should be watered beforehand. The nematodes require humid conditions and dry out quickly. To prevent organisms from sticking to blades of grass, you should then water the area.

    Good to know:

    • Nematodes need a soil temperature above twelve degrees Celsius
    • Temperature drop at night does not hurt
    • great sensitivity to light
    • apply only in the morning or evening
    • Roundworms multiply in two to three weeks
    • Keep the soil evenly moist during this time

    Parasitic fungi against June beetles

    The larvae of the beetles can be combated biologically with special fungi that live as parasites. Fungi of the genus Metarhizium are used, with the species Metarhizium anisopliae being used most frequently as a control agent. When it comes into contact with the grubs, its spores settle on its outer skin. These germinate and pierce the tissue with the hyphae.

    The fungus develops inside the larva, which then dies off after a few days. Spring and autumn are indicated as favorable treatment periods, whereby the temperatures should be warm. Then the grubs are in search of food in the upper soil layers.

    Application:

    • Mix mushroom spores with sterilized barley grains
    • Scatter the mixture on the floor
    • incorporate well
    • Water the lawn generously

    Beauveria brongniartii

    This parasitic fungus has a lifestyle similar to that of Metarhizium anisopliae. Both fungi have specialized on a few hosts. The use of Beauveria brongniartii has no effect against the June beetle. However, this is effective in combating cockchafers.

    pyrethrum

    The Caucasian insect flower (Tanacetum coccineum) develops a phytochemical thought to be a defense and has been extracted by humans for many centuries. The active substance pyrethrum has a deadly effect on insects because it spreads in the nervous system and damages the stimulus pathways. The contact poison only works if the beetles are sprayed directly. They stagger, fall off the leaves and may die. Many insecticide manufacturers use the substance in their products that are used to kill pests.

    tips

    The pesticide is no exception to beneficial insects. Pyrethrum kills all insects and should therefore not be used in the garden.

    What to do against June beetles in the apartment?

    During their twilight and night flights, June beetles orientate themselves towards light sources, because these only allow the silhouettes of trees and bushes to stand out against the horizon. You can also get lost in apartments when the windows are wide open and there is light inside. Try to catch the animals with a screw cap jar and release them outside again. There is no natural way to get rid of the beetles.

    Build your own trap

    Scent traps containing a cocktail of pheromones are often used to trap garden beetles. This serves as an attractant and attracts male beetles that are looking for a partner. The effect of such traps on June beetles is controversial. While some garden owners report successes, attempts to lure them in other gardens are unsuccessful. If you want to build a trap yourself, you should take advantage of the bugs' way of life. Use artificial light sources as a lure.

    How to build a June bug trap:

    • Cut a 1.5 liter plastic bottle in half
    • Tuck the top part upside down into the bottom end
    • hang vertically at tree or bush height
    • put a light source behind it

    tips

    You can paint the bottle parts green except for the bottom to simulate foliage. Enlarge the entrance opening with a funnel cut off so that the beetles don't fall to the ground so easily.

    Prevent June beetles

    June beetles feel particularly at home in the lawn if it has open spots and a warm, dry microclimate. In order to make the areas unattractive for laying eggs, you need to make the living conditions for the beetle worse. To prevent the females from laying their eggs in the ground, the turf must be as dense as possible. This is possible with regular care. Start mowing in the spring when the lawn has grown about eight centimeters high.

    Lawn care throughout the year:

    • scarify in spring
    • then fertilize
    • mow weekly
    • don't cut too deep

    Lay lawn protection

    So-called lawn protection fabrics are used in warm regions so that the uncontrolled spread can be contained. These mats are laid out at a floor depth of ten centimetres. Then there is a layer of soil with grass seed or turf. The material is weather-resistant and does not rot. The prices can vary and are around three euros per square meter.

    mode of action

    Older larvae cannot reach the plant roots from the deeper layers of soil in spring and young larvae cannot retreat into deeper layers of soil to hibernate, so that they freeze to death. The mats also prevent moles from digging up the soil.

    spread foil

    You can prevent the female beetles from laying their eggs on the meadow. To do this, you must lay out foil or garden fleece on the lawn during the flight period so that the June beetles cannot land on the substrate. This measure only makes sense in small gardens and must be repeated every evening for several weeks. To avoid damaging the lawn, the foil should not be left on the surface all day.

    What are June bugs?

    Behind the June beetle (English: june beetle or summer chafer) hides the species Amphimallon solstitiale, which is also known as the ribbed fallow beetle. It belongs to the scarab beetle family and is closely related to the cockchafer. June beetles reach a size between 14 and 18 millimeters and have yellow-brown to brown elytra. The crown and pronotum are darker in color than the rest of the body.

    What gave the beetle its official German name is the pattern on the elytra. There are three raised ribs on each side. Striking are the long antennae, whose patch compartment is divided into three parts when you look more closely. The beetles are hairy on the pronotum and under the elytra.

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    reproduction and developmental stages

    The beetles mate in June. The female lays up to 35 eggs in sandy soil in July. They fly back to the places where they hatched to lay their eggs. The female dies shortly thereafter. The first larval stage hatches between July and August, depending on when the eggs are laid.

    Once a larva has hatched, it crawls into the substrate. To hibernate, the larvae molt so that they survive the winter in the second larval instar. To be protected from the freezing temperatures, the grubs retreat below the frost line of the ground.

    In June of the second year, the grubs molt and in the third instar larvae migrate back to the roots. At this stage, the larvae survive the coming winter in deeper layers of the earth. In the third year, the grubs turn into a pupa, from which the adult beetles hatch in June. In northern regions, full development takes up to four years.

    The larval stages are as big as:

    • first stage: about a centimeter
    • second stage: two to three centimeters
    • third stage: up to five centimeters

    enemies

    Bats are among the natural enemies of flying beetles. The insectivorous mammals are active when the June beetles are also at their peak. The larvae are eaten by shrews and moles. In natural gardens with different habitats, in which many different types of insects find an optimal basis for life, the spread of the June beetle is regulated in a natural way.

    Enemies living in and on the ground:

    • Arthropods like rockcrawlers
    • parasite fly
    • dagger wasps
    • Larvae of various ground beetles

    Risk of confusion with other beetles

    There are some beetle species that can easily be confused with the June beetle. Since some other scarab beetles are also referred to as June beetles, there are often misunderstandings. A clear distinction between the species is important, however, since control measures can also endanger useful beetles.

    A comparison of May beetles and June beetles

    The cockchafer (pictured here) is less hairy than the June beetle

    The most widespread cockchafer in Central Europe is the field cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha). It also belongs to the scarab beetle family and inhabits open landscapes. Its larvae require well-drained soil with moist conditions. They often find optimal conditions in gardens, parks and meadows.

    cockchafer June beetle
    size 22 to 32 millimeters 14 to 18 millimeters
    elytra light or dark reddish brown yellow-brown
    hairiness fitting white, never opaque brownish, densely bristly
    longitudinal ribs four per elytra three per elytra

    differentiation of the larvae

    The grubs of May and June beetles are creamy white to white-yellow in color and have a brown head capsule. As a result, the species are difficult to distinguish from one another, which makes targeted control more difficult. They have a typical posture reminiscent of a "c". In order to separate the two species from each other, the last abdominal segment must be examined more closely. In May beetles, this last segment has an annular transverse furrow, so that the segment appears to be divided in two.

    Another important difference between June beetle and May beetle is the anal column on the last segment. In June beetle larvae, this is deeply incised and fanned out with three rays at the top. May beetle larvae have a slightly rounded anal column.

    July beetle

    Behind the July beetle hides the species Anomala dubia, which is also known as the metallic July beetle. The reason for this naming is the metallic sheen of the head and pronotum, which shimmer green. Its elytra are light brown in color. This species also belongs to the scarab beetles and is between twelve and 15 millimeters long.

    A typical distinguishing feature is the lack of hair, which distinguishes it from other garden chafers. Like the June beetle, this species also lays its eggs in sandy soil. The grubs feed on the roots of grasses and trees, while the beetles feed on willow and birch leaves.

    Activity of the July beetle:

    • Flight time between May and August
    • sunny days are preferred
    • flies at dusk

    Rhizotrogus marginipes

    This scarab beetle is sometimes referred to as the June beetle because there is no official German name for it. This species differs from the actual June beetle by the barely visible stripes on the elytra. The pronotum is dark colored and coarsely to finely punctured. The rest of the body is reddish-yellow to tan in color. Rhizotrogus marginipes has close-fitting hairs, while the June beetle is conspicuously hairy and has long cilia on the edges of the elytra.

    When the beetle flies:

    • between June and July
    • in the evening
    • preferably on cool days

    What do June beetles eat?

    The larvae even eat soft wood

    On the menu of the larvae living in the soil are fine roots of grasses, wild herbs and ornamental plants in the garden. They have not specialized in any plant species and will eat away at the roots of cyclamen, Virginia creeper, primroses or azaleas. The roots of woody plants such as roses and rhododendrons or newly planted deciduous trees and pines are also eaten by the grubs. Adult June beetles eat leaves and flowers of deciduous trees such as fruit trees.

    Where do June beetles live?

    June beetles live on forest edges and on arable land. They prefer semi-open landscapes and can therefore also be found in gardens or parks with trees and in avenues. Southern Norway and central Sweden represent the northern distribution limit of this scarab beetle, because it needs warm temperatures. June beetles only appear locally in the mountains. The females look for sandy and well-drained soil to lay their eggs. They avoid damp locations.

    When do June bugs appear?

    The flight time of the June beetle extends from June to July, which is why the species got its common German name. The beetles are not diurnal and prefer warm temperatures. On mild summer evenings, the beetles go in search of food and partners. In particularly mild winter months, the larvae pupate at the end of winter, so that June beetles can appear in April in a few years. They swarm out in large numbers, which is why the association with a beetle plague often arises. About two-thirds of flying beetles are male.

    On mild summer evenings around June 21, male June beetles swarm around garden furniture, trees and bushes because they are looking for a mate.

    digression

    Flying June Beetle

    These scarab beetles are considered clumsy fliers, because they often land on clothing unintentionally. This is because the animals use the higher-lying silhouettes in front of the clear horizon for orientation. People can easily be mistaken for a tree. Another reason for the clumsy behavior is the comparatively small wings that have to carry a lot of weight.Maneuverability in flight suffers from this unequal ratio.

    Harmful and beneficial larvae

    The adult June beetle does not pose a threat to woody plants, even if they swarm out in large numbers and eat leaves. After a few weeks, the beetles disappear as quickly as they appeared, so that deciduous trees and fruit bushes can quickly recover from the damage caused by feeding.

    However, the larvae can affect lawns or beds. New plantings of trees and shrubs are also threatened. If the grubs eat up roots, the affected plants can no longer obtain sufficient nutrients and water. They die off over time. Since the grubs of various harmful and beneficial species are very similar, you need to distinguish the species from each other before combating them.

    grub coloring food particularities
    rose chafer white with greyish tint dead plant remains stretched crawling on the back
    rhino beetle whitish with light brown head dead plant remains up to 10 cm long
    garden beetles whitish with brown head living plant parts stretched crawling on the stomach

    damage picture

    The greatest danger for the plants comes from the larvae in the third stage, as they eat a lot of food. A first warning signal is a stunted growth of grasses, which occurs selectively in the lawn. Circular patches of dried grass are a typical indication of grubs in the soil. The dead areas can be peeled off with your bare hands, revealing the nests of the larvae.

    consequential damage:

    • churned ground by wild boar
    • areas picked by birds
    • mole hill

    digression

    June beetle and culture

    Children are already confronted with the June beetle in kindergarten and elementary school. It serves as a template for coloring pictures and appears in mnemonics that children can use to discover the months. In order to take away the fear of the animals, trap campaigns are carried out in many schools. Children can examine the beetles closely and get to know the distinguishing features of the cockchafer. With the help of clip art or collages, the children can depict the brown-colored curlew beetles in their natural habitat.

    frequently asked Questions

    Are June Beetles Dangerous?

    There is no danger from flying June beetles, even if you take the beetles in your hand. Many people get scared when the bugs fly straight at them. But the fear of a bite is unfounded. The animals do not sting, are not poisonous and do not suck blood. Even if your pet has eaten a June bug, there is no need to worry. Cats like to eat June beetles as a snack when pursuing their natural hunting instincts.

    Do June beetles build nests?

    Due to the mass appearance of the beetles on warm summer evenings, it can be assumed that June beetles live in nests. But the bugs don't build themselves shelters. They lay their eggs on bare soil if it is sandy enough. After the larvae hatch, they retreat into the substrate for further development. The adult beetles eventually crawl out of the ground again.

    When do June bugs go away?

    The only reason for a beetle to survive is to reproduce, so their lifespan is very short. After this has been completed and the females have laid their eggs, the June beetles die within the same year.

    Where does the June beetle come from?

    Scarab beetles are thermophilic and inhabit open habitats warmed by the sun. They frequent gardens and are not afraid of built-up areas, as these are more sheltered and retain heat. In order for the animals to be able to survive, patchy lawns, sandy soil and trees and bushes are important as food suppliers.

    How long do June bugs stay?

    June beetles love warmth, which is why they mainly appear in the summer months. If the winter months are particularly mild, the larvae can pupate as early as April. The adult beetles then fly out much earlier to look for food and find a mate. They don't fly in rainy weather. The massive occurrence lasts for a few weeks.

    What is the lifespan of June beetles?

    The beetles don't get very old. After hatching, the beetles can expect to live for four to six weeks. This range may vary slightly depending on the weather.

    Where do June beetles live during the day?

    So that the clumsy fliers are better protected from predators such as birds and mammals, they have shifted their activities to twilight. Your flight lasts a few hours. After that June beetles hide again in the low vegetation where they spend the day.

Category:

Animals in the garden