Ask An Entomologist: Can June Bugs See?
December 2nd, 2006 by Kelley
Neshan:
Can June bugs see? Why do they crash into things, etc? My friends and I cannot figure it out or find it on the internet.
Image courtesy of bugguide.net
“June bug” is a common name given to the beetles (mostly of the genus Phyllophaga and Polyphylla) in the Scarabidae family. They are a well known insect and can be seen bouncing off screens and porch lights in early summer.
They can indeed see (note the compound eyes in the picture above). In fact, that is why most people see them at night around their porch lights…because they are attracted to light. It is probably fair enough to say that their sense of smell is better than vision. Their antennae are quite distinctive, they are club-shaped and made up of plates (lamellae). The antennae can be folded in together (as in the picture above) or fanned out. (Note: In the picture above, the antennae are the big, orange-ish structures that might be mistaken at first glance as the first pair of legs.)
So, why do you always see them bumping into things? Well, as a general observation, beetles are fairly clumsy fliers. In that respect, june bugs kind of remind me of myself on rollerblades…once I get going, I pretty much need to just roll smack-dab into something in order to stop or slow down 
HI,
I wanted to tell you that the June bugs are out in force and it’s only April, we live in South Florida and tonight we stepped on alot of June bugs when we took our evening walk…….
They are out in Kansas last night as well. In fact, my 4 year old asked a good question when I told her they were attracted to light. She said “I f they like light, why do they only come out at night?” Does anyone know?
How long do June Bugs live? Becase Ifound one and it has lived for allmost two weeks. Please respond!
2 weeks is a good life span for a little beetle.
why haven’t june bugs adapted to turning over on their bellies?
Bugs are attracted to light. There is a reason for this, during te night bugs are looking for light and before we came along putting lights everywhere the only thing was the moon, the bugs are atracted to the moon to keep them in the away away from harm on the ground
July 10, 2007
Greetings,
I have visited New Smyrna Beach in May 2005 and July 2007. After 4 days of each visit I began getting pimple like bumps on my skin. There was a liquid that came out from them. These would spread, causing me to itch them and a rash would spread on my skin. During my 2007 visit I used Iverest on the bumps and that seemed to reduce the itching. I saw my Dermatologist on the day of my return. His diagnosis, I was bit by an insect and the bumps were an allergic reaction. What type of insect could case this and what can I do to prevent this the next time I return.
Thank you,
Richard
Hello Richard,
How long did you have the rash for? And was there a tingly sensation on your skin where the rash was at after swimming in the water?
There are very few insects that inhabit beaches, and even less that would bite and cause a rash like you’re describing.
I’m no doctor, but my guess is that you picked up a parasite from swimming in the water, such as swimmers itch. Check out this link for more info:
http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/swimmers_itch.html
Just wanted to share a story. I work at a daycare and we were outside one afternoon with the class. One child saw a large bug on the ground and asked what is that? It was crawling up the brick wall and kept falling. We got a bug catcher and scooped it up. I told them I thought it was a June Bug. Sure enough, it is the same one in the photo above. The were very interested in it and why it had “fur” on it’s underside and many other things. I enjoyed seeing them so interested in something.
Y’all are “buggin” me out!
We’ll I dont know a whole lot about these big critters! hehe..but I just would like to know, what is the point of a June Bug? Why are they here? Why do they have “fur” on their underside? Is that what helps them stick to things? I know it takes a year for them to fully become a June Bug..but why do they come just right before the Summer? If anyone can respond to this, it would be appreciated!
Where can we get the answers to these comments?
Those are great questions.
Thank you.
C.W.
So many people interested in June bugs
That ‘fur’ is actually sensilla which are specialized hairs that give them tactile/mechanical/and chemical information about their environment.
Why do they come out in the spring? Its just the ways things go with some bugs. A lot of insects come out as soon as they have had enough time to develop and it starts to get warm enough. It all depends on food resources they had as immatures and day-degrees of the year.
What is the point of a June Bug? Well, they are a food resource to other animals for one. They are not exactly a “good” bug because the larvae develop in the soil and can do damage to turf. But I think they are cool so that’s got to count for something
I think it is fun to see them flying clumsily to the lights at night.
The “bug” I am having issue with has all the characteristics of a “june bug”, however, it is a chocolate brown in color and is definately attracted to porch light. The things have arrived in hoardes and have an unpleasant odor en masse. Please advise. Thanks.
are june bugs poisinos
there was a big black june bug in my bedroom last night. i don’t know if its still in there. is there anyway to get it out? because for some reason i am afraid of it.