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Green June Beetle
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Green June Beetle

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Scarabaeidae

Pest Status: The green June beetle grub can become a pest of turfgrass when thatch is very thick. Sometimes adults are pests in ripe fruits or vegetables.

Appearance: Adults are usually 1-inch long and 1/2-inch wide. The body is green, with or without lengthwise tan stripes on the wings. The underside is metallic green or gold, bearing legs with stout spines to aid in digging.

Life Cycle: Green June beetles overwinter as mature grubs and resume feeding in the spring. The third instar larvae form protective cases composed of soil particles for pupation, which occurs in mid-summer. Adult development usually requires two to three weeks. The adults then emerge from the soil to mate.

Where to Collect: Green June beetles are abundant in areas that are rich in organic matter. Manure, rotting hay, and stable manure all encourage green June beetle infestation.