Japanese Beetle vs June Bug
Japanese Beetles and June bugs are easy to mix up at a glance, but a few details separate them quickly. Here is how to tell which one you found and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Quick answer
Check for this first. A Japanese beetle has metallic green head and thorax with coppery wing covers, while a June bug has chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body.
Side-by-side comparison
| Japanese Beetle | June Bug | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Beetles | Beetles |
| Scientific name | Popillia japonica | Phyllophaga spp. |
| Size | 10–15 mm | 12–25 mm |
| Colors | Green, Metallic and Brown | Brown |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | No | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Metallic green head and thorax with coppery wing covers | Chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body |
Key differences
- Size: June Bugs are larger, reaching 25 mm, while Japanese beetles top out around 15 mm.
- Color: Japanese Beetles are green, metallic and brown; June bugs are brown.
- Where found: look for Japanese beetles in gardens and on plants and in lawns and grass; June bugs turn up in lawns and grass, in gardens and on plants and indoors.
- Signature feature: Japanese Beetles: metallic green head and thorax with coppery wing covers. June Bugs: chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body.
How to identify Japanese beetles
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.
- Metallic green head and thorax with coppery wing covers
- Five tufts of white hair along each side of the abdomen
- Feeds in groups, leaving lace-like skeletonized leaves
How to identify June bugs
A heavy, reddish-brown beetle that crashes into screens and porch lights on late-spring nights. Its C-shaped white grubs live in soil and chew grass roots.
- Chunky, shiny reddish-brown to dark brown body
- Clumsy flight toward lights after dark
- Hairy underside and hooked legs that cling to screens
Which one is more dangerous?
Neither is more dangerous than the other; both are rated nuisance on our scale.
Japanese beetles do not bite or sting people; the harm is to plants and turf. June bugs are harmless to people; they do not bite or sting.
Where and when you'll see each
Japanese Beetles turn up in gardens and on plants and in lawns and grass, mostly in summer. June Bugs turn up in lawns and grass, in gardens and on plants and indoors, mostly in spring and summer.
Because they share habitat, you may find both in the same place, so check each individual.
What to do if you find one
Japanese Beetles: Hand-pick beetles in the early morning and drop them into soapy water. Read the full removal guide for more.
June Bugs: Turn off outdoor lights or switch to yellow bulbs during flight season. Read the full removal guide for more.
Biology: 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Japanese beetles and June bugs?
Size: June Bugs are larger, reaching 25 mm, while Japanese beetles top out around 15 mm.
Which is bigger, a Japanese beetle or a June bug?
Japanese Beetle: 10–15 mm. June Bug: 12–25 mm.
Do Japanese beetles or June bugs bite?
Japanese Beetles do not bite. June Bugs do not bite.
Where are they usually found?
Japanese Beetles: in gardens and on plants and in lawns and grass. June Bugs: in lawns and grass, in gardens and on plants and indoors.