June beetle

June beetle
or May beetle or June bug

Any insect of the genus Phyllophaga, belonging to a widely distributed, plant-feeding scarab beetle subfamily (Melolonthinae).

These red-brown beetles commonly appear in the Northern Hemisphere on warm spring evenings and are attracted to lights. Heavy-bodied, they are 0.5–1 in. (1.2–2.5 cm) long and have shiny wing covers. They feed on foliage and flowers at night, sometimes causing considerable damage. The larvae live in the soil, and can destroy crops and kill lawns and pastures by severing the grasses from their roots; they are considered excellent fish bait.

June beetle (Phyllophaga rugosa).

Harry Rogers

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insect
also called  May beetle  or  June bug 
 any insect of the genus Phyllophaga, belonging to the widely distributed, plant-feeding subfamily Melolonthinae (family Scarabaeidae, order Coleoptera). These red-brown beetles commonly appear in the Northern Hemisphere during warm spring evenings and are attracted to lights. The heavy-bodied June beetles vary from 12 to 25 mm (0.5 to 1 inch) and have shiny wing covers (elytra). They feed on foliage and flowers at night, sometimes causing considerable damage. June beetle larvae, called white grubs, are about 25 mm long and live in the soil. They can destroy crops (e.g., corn [maize], small grains, potatoes, strawberries), and they can kill lawns and pastures by severing the grasses from the roots.

      Each female buries between 50 and 200 small, pearllike eggs in the soil. After three years of feeding on plant roots, the larvae pupate, emerging as adults in August or September, then burying themselves again for the winter. In the spring the adults emerge once more and feed on available foliage. Adults live less than one year.

      A natural enemy of the June beetle is the pyrgota fly larva (Pyrgota undata), which feeds on the beetle, eventually killing it. June beetle larvae are considered excellent fish bait. For information on the green June beetle (Cotinus nitida), see flower chafer.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • June beetle — is the common name for several varieties of scarab beetles, including: * Phyllophaga (genus) , a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, also known as June bugs * the Green June beetle ( Cotinis nitida ) of the southeastern United States *… …   Wikipedia

  • June beetle — June June, n. [L. Junius: cf. F. Juin. So called either from Junius, the name of a Roman gens, or from Juno, the goddess.] The sixth month of the year, containing thirty days. [1913 Webster] And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • June beetle — noun any of various large usually brown North American leaf eating beetles common in late spring; the larvae feed on roots of grasses etc. • Syn: ↑June bug, ↑May bug, ↑May beetle • Hypernyms: ↑scarabaeid beetle, ↑scarabaeid, ↑scarabaean …   Useful english dictionary

  • June beetle — May May, n. [F. Mai, L. Maius; so named in honor of the goddess Maia (Gr. Mai^a), daughter of Atlas and mother of Mercury by Jupiter.] 1. The fifth month of the year, containing thirty one days. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. The early part or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • june beetle — noun see june bug …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Death Valley June beetle — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insec …   Wikipedia

  • green June beetle — noun large greenish June beetle of southern United States • Syn: ↑figeater • Hypernyms: ↑June beetle, ↑June bug, ↑May bug, ↑May beetle * * * noun Usage: usually capitalized J …   Useful english dictionary

  • Ten-lined June beetle — Taxobox | name = Ten lined June beetle image width = 240px regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda classis = Insecta ordo = Coleoptera familia = Scarabaeidae subfamilia = Melolonthinae genus = Polyphylla species = P. decemlineata binomial =… …   Wikipedia

  • June — June, n. [L. Junius: cf. F. Juin. So called either from Junius, the name of a Roman gens, or from Juno, the goddess.] The sixth month of the year, containing thirty days. [1913 Webster] And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • June bug — June June, n. [L. Junius: cf. F. Juin. So called either from Junius, the name of a Roman gens, or from Juno, the goddess.] The sixth month of the year, containing thirty days. [1913 Webster] And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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