are june bugs an indicator of grubs
There are more than 400 species of May beetles (Phyllophaga spp.) north of Mexico, and they are difficult to distinguish. The common name “June bug” is frowned upon, since “bug,” in its technical sense, refers to a completely different group of insects that are not beetles. Scarabaeidae (scarab beetles) in the order Coleoptera (beetles) Description: May beetles are usually brown, rusty, or black, without patterns such as spots or stripes, and rather hairy beneath. They are nocturnal and are attracted to lights at night. Grubs, the term given to larvae of scarab beetles, are frequently found feeding on the roots of turf and pasture grasses. Damage caused by white grubs initially resembles drought stress. As grub feeding continues, areas of turf (sod) begin to wilt and turn brown. The larva of the May/June beetles, also called May or June bugs, are white c-shade grubs that have a three year life cycle. Noticeable damage to the turf doesn’t occur until late in the second year. For the best control, a basic knowledge of life cycles is important. First Year. Adult May beetles eat plant leaves (the genus name, Phyllophaga, means “leaf eater”) and flowers. Larval May beetles (grubs) eat roots and decaying plant material in the soil. When they are numerous, then can damage lawns, gardens, and crops. Phyllophaga larvae and other larvae of the family Scarabaeidae are often referred to as white grubs, including larvae of the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman), annual white grubs (Cyclocephala spp.), and the green June beetle (Cotinis nitida Linnaeus). Figure 1. Adult Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman. This damage is usually more extensive than that caused by the grubs, but can be repaired by replacing the sod, tamping or rolling the surface and watering the area. In parts of Ontario, there are three species of white grubs which infest lawns - European chafer, June beetle and Japanese beetle. Sites with a large number of adult beetles in June and July are more likely to have grubs in late summer. Early warning signs include swarms of brown, 1/2-inch long masked chafer beetles skimming over the turf at dusk, or green June beetles buzz-bombing the turf by day in search of mates and egg-laying sites. Grubs of both species cause considerable damage to turfgrass, while the Japanese beetle adult is a serious pest of a large number of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs. June beetles are native to North America, with approximately 152 species occurring in the United States and Canada. Several species of white grubs can cause this damage, but the two that are most common in Kentucky are the larvae of masked chafers and Japanese beetles. Other species occasionally infesting turfgrass in Kentucky are the larvae of green June beetles, May beetles, and the black turfgrass ataenius. All of these grubs have stout, grayish-to-white bodies with brown heads. Depending upon the species, the mature grub ranges in size from 3/8 to 2 inches long.
Yes, they are white c-shade grubs that have a three year life cycle.