#1 My Bug

Green June Bug

Cotinis Nitida

What do they eat?

• Variety of fruits including berries, grapes, peaches, nectarines, apples, pears and figs
• Plant leafs, trees and shrubs
• Adult June bugs are attracted to rotting fruit
• The June bug grubs that live underground feed on plant roots

              

Where

• June bugs can be found in eastern United States and in the South. But they can get confused with the related southwestern species called the figeater beetle

Movement

• June bugs can fly and they can walk around on their six legs.

Although the June bug isn't poisons, the bug does have sharp spines on its legs that can deliver a slight pinch if you choose to pick one up.

Life Cycle

• Egg
• Females hide about 2 to 5 inches deep in the soil, where they lay eggs during midsummer. They lay approximately 60 to 75 eggs over a two-week period. In about two and a half weeks, the eggs hatch into grubs, which are white in color.
• Larvae
• The larval stage is the most destructive stage of the insects. The grubs have excessively high appetites and feed constantly. Larval June bugs feed in warm summers and under the soil during winter. They will feed on plant roots, which in turn will kill the plants.
• Some species of the June bug develop into pupa within one season, others will feed for a number of summers before developing into pupa.
• Pupa
• Last stage before the June bugs mature into adults. The brown pupa June bugs start to change color to metallic green while gradually assuming their adult shape. This stage lasts for three weeks before they fully mature into adults.
• Adult
• After spending three weeks in the pupa stage they are adults. They spend most of their time eating plants, trees and fruits. They are also attracted to light at night. However long exposure of light will kill them.

Other Facts:

• June bugs can live up to three years, but they typically live less then a year as adults. They emerge in May-June to lay eggs and then they die at the end of summer

• There are four different types of commonJune Bugs
• Japanese Beetle
• Green June Bug
• Ten-Lines June Beetle
• Chafer Beetle

Activities:

The bug can be turned green to fit a June bug and the children can trace their hands to form the wings

Great activity for students to work on their hand eye coordination and their fine motor skills

Although this is for butterflies you can use this to attract other bugs such as the June bug

Books: