June bugs, also known as May beetles, are a common sight across North America, signaling the arrival of late spring and early summer evenings. These large, reddish-brown insects belong to the scarab beetle family and are often seen clumsily flying toward lights after sunset. The widespread public curiosity centers on whether these buzzing visitors possess the ability to bite or sting a person. Understanding the June bug’s biology provides a clear answer to this common concern.
The Immediate Answer
June bugs do not bite humans or pets, nor do they sting. While their erratic, nocturnal flight patterns frequently cause them to accidentally collide with people, this physical contact is purely incidental. The sensation of a June bug bumping into skin or getting tangled in hair can be startling, but it is not an attack. They are not interested in humans and possess no venom or piercing mouthparts.
Anatomy and Interaction
Adult June bugs possess chewing mouthparts, which are perfectly adapted for their natural diet of consuming plant foliage, such as the leaves of trees and shrubs. These mandibles are designed to shear and grind soft plant tissue, making them incapable of penetrating tough human skin. They are not built for biting or drawing blood, unlike mosquitoes or biting flies.
Their sometimes-frenzied interaction with humans is a side effect of their poor aerodynamics and strong attraction to light. June bugs are relatively heavy for their size, and their hard wing covers, or elytra, must be lifted to allow the hind wings to move, which makes their flight wobbly and inefficient. This combination of clumsy flight and an instinctual draw to porch lights often results in accidental collisions with any object, or person, standing nearby. While a person may feel a slight pinch when the beetle crawls on them, this is due to the sharp spines on their legs used for grasping surfaces, not a deliberate bite.
June Bugs as Garden Pests
The primary negative impact of the June bug is not on human health but on lawns and ornamental plants. Adult beetles feed on the leaves of various plants, which can sometimes cause noticeable defoliation if populations are high. The truly destructive stage of their life cycle, however, is the larva, commonly known as a white grub. These C-shaped grubs live underground for one to three years, voraciously feeding on the roots of grasses and other plants. Grub activity can cause significant damage to turf, leading to brown, dead patches that can be easily rolled back like a piece of carpet.