What Is the Life Cycle of a June Bug?

Adult June bugs feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs, making them a pest for gardeners. June bugs can cause patchy, tattered foliage that weakens or occasionally kills the plants they have fed upon. June bug grubs do not eat foliage, but they do eat roots and organic matter from the soil. The grubs can occasionally damage lawns and harm crops such as corn, potatoes or strawberries.

June bugs and Japanese beetles share a similar appearance and life cycle, but they are separate species. Japanese beetles are invasive, and due to their high population levels across the eastern United States, they typically cause more severe damage than June bugs.