July 27, 2008
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A Bug is a Bug is a Bug
There seems to have been a little bit of confusion about what kind of insect this is. So for my clarification and your edification; this bug is...
A Japanese Beetle
bane of the T & K garden; devourer of Roses (petals and leaves) and creator of random bald patches in my lawn.
The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica commonly referred to as the jitterbug) is a beetle about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) long and 1 cm (0.4 inches) wide (smaller in Canada), with shiny copper-colored elytra and a shiny green top of the thorax and head. It is not very destructive in Japan, where it is controlled by natural enemies, but in America it is a serious pest to rose bushes, grapes, canna, crape mytrles, and other plants.
It is not
Calosoma
The Forest Caterpillar Hunter, Calosoma sycophanta, is a large, bright green, metallic ground beetle that is native to Europe. In 1905 it was imported to New England for control of the Gypsy Moth The species is a voracious consumer of caterpillars during both its larval stage and as an adult.
Nor is it a
June Bug
Green June Beetle aka Peach Beetle
June bug can refer to:
- Phyllophaga, a genus of beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae of the family Scarabaeidae, also known as June bugs or June Beetles
- the Green June beetle (Cotinis nitida) of the southeastern United States
- Figeater beetle (Cotinis mutabilis) of the western and southwestern United States
- Cockchafer beetles, also known as May bugs or May beetles
All three are primarily green but the similarity ends there. So we all now know that:
- Japanese Beetle... BAD guy
- Calosoma.... GOOD guy
- June Bug... EHH guy, sometimes GOOD and sometimes BAD.
Japanese Beetles and June Bugs are both a type of scarb beetle. Cool, huh!
Comments (11)
We used to have lots of May beetles or June bugs, but I could have sworn they were brown. There is no doubt the Japanese beetle population is thriving here.
ick!!
June bugs in Iowa - which by the way come out in May - are brown - whether they are buzz frantically around the room or I dig them up outside. June bugs are my arch nemises!!!!
@suzyQ_darnit - @Ninasusan - You both are correct!!
Phyllophaga is a very large genus (more than 260 species) of New World scarab beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae. Common names for this genus and many other related genera in the subfamily Melolonthinae are May beetles, June bugs, and June beetles. They are medium to large in size (8-25 mm) and are blackish or reddish-brown in color, without prominent markings, and often rather hairy ventrally. Except, of course, for the June Beetle species also known as Peach Beetle which is a vibrant green.
This post was intended to correct the mis-identification of my original photo by a couple of friends. Most "June Bugs" run to the brownish side with an occasional bit of floroscent green. Some even tend to the orange hue. With 260 species there is the opportunity for much variety of coloration.
so - the rest of the story is - you must get rid of these pests immediately or lose your lovely roses?
@Cynthian73 - It is nearly impossible to kill the adults without using a pesticide so strong that I risk it being absorbed by the g'babies, too. You have to treat/kill them while they are in the grub stage. So I will wait and treat a bit later in the season. I've been considering secretly placing a few bait traps upwind in the neighbors yard. He has no garden/roses etc., and no youngsters to worry about. They use pheromones to attact the buggers to their doom. This is a diversionary tactic and keeps them from reproducing on my property.
BTW Are you feeling better today? I heard you were under the weather yesterday. And, oh yes, I am in the mood for one of your cartoons... you know the crabby, on point, in your face, lady. Can't remember her name....
I am way too familiar with the first guys.
When we were kids we would tie a string to a June Bugs leg and fly it around over our heads not to be cruel just thought it was fun, on reflection probably not fun for the bug! I will have to show the pics to my DH as we have often argued as to what exactly a "June Bug" looks like, his being from Wisconsin and my being from the South seem to make a difference on such deep discussions.
Hang in there and go get those beetles!
@psychoticfrog - Oh, it definately will. Many of the species of June Bug are endemic to certain areas of the country. I've seen movies where beetles were tied by strings and carried around like tiny balloons.
BAsically what we did, only in Georgia (at my grandparents home) the June bugs were strong and wanted to get away so they were more like circling helicopters once tied to a string! As I say looking back it wasn't a nice practice, but I can tell you I never recall killing one we always practiced catch and release.
@tkperito - Feeling a bit better. Was feeling exhausted most of the day yesterday.
June bugs, here, are black. Hmm. I wonder what I have been mistaking for June bugs. I love green beetles of any sort as long as they are not in my house or yard =0)
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