If April showers bring May flowers, May flowers seem to bring June Bugs
While the name is fairly pleasant, making you think of a nice summery (maybe even cute) bug, these insects aren't nice or cute.
What Do June Bugs Look Like?
June Bugs are a variety of scarab beetle and can come in a variety of colors, ranging from light brown or black to bright green or copper. They are all usually between a half inch to an inch in length. They have an oval, armor-like shape. June Bugs, also sometimes called May Bugs, can actually emerge as early as April. Generally in our region of Virginia, though, they are most prolific in the summer months, beginning in early June.
Are June Bugs Harmful?
While June Bugs won't really harm humans or pets, they can cause a lot of damage to your yard and vegetation, as well as become an extreme annoyance in your living spaces. June Bugs are nocturnal and will swarm lights, bang into screens, and get inside your home, screened porch, or garage when you open the door. Additionally, these beetles have tiny claws, making it difficult to get them off you once they decide to land. Though the claws are small enough not to cause pain or damage, and they will not bite you, June Bugs don't feel harmless when clinging to your skin or swarming your home.
June Bugs will, however, cause incredible damage to your yard. They are attracted to almost all vegetation, which means they are the ultimate destroyer of greenery. They will eat grass, ornamentals, flowers, trees, fruit and vegetable plants, and pretty much any other plant they can find. And with the swarms they generally travel in, they can do significant damage in a short period of time.
How Do I Keep June Bugs Out Of My Yard?
Pest control starts with awareness. Look for signs of an infestation before it gets out of control. If you are witnessing dead patches of grass, it can be a sign that newly hatching June Bugs are eating their way out of their homes and through your yard.
Although counter-intuitive, keeping your grass healthy and well-seeded will make it less hospitable to June bug larvae, keeping them from wanting to lay eggs, hatch, and live in your vegetation.
The best way to prevent an infestation is maintaining a professional pest control barrier to deter new populations of June Bugs (or any other insect) from forming in your yard and home.
Call us today and keep those June bugs off your skin and out of your lawn!
Learn more about insects in Virginia in our Pest Library
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