The May beetle or also known as the June Bug are fascinating bugs! They are generally half an inch long, which is considered big. They are found in all different colors. Such as red, dark red, maroon, brown, or black! They are also very shiny. The purpose of this report is to give other other people a little more information on my bug.

May beetles and June Bugs can range in many different sizes. An adult itself can range from 20-25 millimeters long, the eggs are 2.5 millimeters long and 1.5 millimeters wide, and the larva for young are usually 5 millimeters long and the adults are 25 millimeters long! Most of them or reddish brown to black and shiny. Phyllophaga Prununcullina has very longlegs with little pokey’s on them, they also have a little bit of fur. One of the adaptations they have are wings, they use them to get away from their predators, also their colors blend in with trees so they can hide from their predators. Therefore they are ready for when their predators want to attack!

May Beetles or June Bugs are not located in just one part of the world. But are located all over the world! They can adapt to pretty much every environment, but mostly likes an area with lots of trees or grass!  There are over 200 different species in America and their population is not growing but yet not shrinking either! This shows that they are very unique bugs and are very popular and not going to be extinct for quite some time!

What do May beetles eat, and what eats or kill them? Adults eat the leaves and flowers of many different trees, shrubs and other plants. However their grubs live in the soil and eat plant roots, such as grass and are sometimes damage gardens, and golf courses. The grubs can be found right under the surface of the soil.

Usually bees and wasps eat this type of bug or just kill it by laying their eggs on the beetle and when they hatch they eat the insides of the beetle killing it!

May Beetles or June Bugs aren’t really that important but are very fascinating! What stood out to me the most was that they have a life cycle of 2-3 years and have distinctive antennae!

Author: Mykell V.
Published: 2/2013

Sources:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/3477, http://ipm.ncsu.edu/AG268/html/may_beetles.htm,
http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/Web/245MayJuneBeetles.pdf
http://bugs.osu.edu/%7Ebugdoc/Shetlar/factsheet/ornamental/FSmayjunebeetle.htm

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Photo Credit: John Tingler