2 Bugs That Look Like June Bugs
Think you found June bugs? These 2 bugs are the ones most often mistaken for them. Each entry below shows how to tell the difference.
How to recognize a real June bug
- Chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body
- Clumsy flight toward lights after dark
- Hairy underside and hooked legs that cling to screens
1. Japanese Beetle
A metallic green beetle with copper-brown wing covers that skeletonizes the leaves of roses, grapes, linden and hundreds of other plants. Its white grubs feed on grass roots in lawns.
How it differs:
- Size: June Bugs are larger, reaching 25 mm, while Japanese beetles top out around 15 mm.
- Color: June Bugs are brown; Japanese beetles are green, metallic and brown.
- Where found: look for June bugs in lawns and grass, in gardens and on plants and indoors; Japanese beetles turn up in gardens and on plants and in lawns and grass.
2. Ground Beetle
A fast-running, shiny black beetle that hunts slugs, caterpillars and other insects at night. Ground beetles often wander into basements and garages from nearby mulch and leaf litter.
How it differs:
- Size: Ground Beetles are larger, reaching 30 mm, while June bugs top out around 25 mm.
- Color: June Bugs are brown; ground beetles are black and metallic.
- Risk: the June bug is a nuisance pest but not a health threat to most people, while the ground beetle poses no real threat to people, pets or property.
Side-by-side comparison
| June Bug | Japanese Beetle | Ground Beetle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Beetles | Beetles | Beetles |
| Scientific name | Phyllophaga spp. | Popillia japonica | Carabidae family |
| Size | 12–25 mm | 10–15 mm | 5–30 mm |
| Colors | Brown | Green, Metallic and Brown | Black and Metallic |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | No | No | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Nuisance | Harmless |
| Key feature | Chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body | Metallic green head and thorax with coppery wing covers | Shiny black body, often with a metallic sheen |
Quick identification checklist
- Count the legs. June Bugs have 6 legs.
- Check for wings. June Bugs have wings.
- Measure it. June Bugs are 12–25 mm (up to about 0.98 in).
- Look for the signature feature: chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body.
- Note where you found it. June Bugs are usually in lawns and grass, in gardens and on plants and indoors.
When you'll see June bugs
June Bugs are most active in spring and summer. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.
Typical places to check: lawn or grass, garden or plants and indoors, anywhere.
About beetles
The June bug is one of the beetles. Beetles go through complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (grub), pupa and adult. The larval stage often does the most feeding and damage, and it can last from a few weeks to several years depending on the species. Adults protect their flight wings under hard wing covers called elytra, which is why most beetles look armored and meet in a neat line down the back.
Look closely at larvae as well as adults. Grubs in soil, fuzzy larvae in closets and small worms in flour are all beetle larvae, and finding them tells you where the problem is centered.
Are June bugs or their lookalikes dangerous?
- June Bug: June bugs are harmless to people; they do not bite or sting.
- Japanese Beetle: Japanese beetles do not bite or sting people; the harm is to plants and turf.
- Ground Beetle: Ground beetles rarely bite and are beneficial predators; a few release a harmless, bad-smelling spray.
Frequently asked questions
What bug looks like a June bug?
The closest lookalikes are Japanese beetle and ground beetle.
How can I be sure it's a June bug?
Look for these features: chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body, clumsy flight toward lights after dark and hairy underside and hooked legs that cling to screens.
Are June bugs dangerous?
June bugs are harmless to people; they do not bite or sting.