June beetle
(Phyllophaga spp.)

Overview

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The June beetle can be found across Canada and are most destructive in Ontario and Quebec. In their larval stage (white grubs) they attack potatoes, corn, soybean, strawberries and grasses. Their damage can result in significant crop loss if not controlled early in the season.

Main description

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The June beetle adults are a shiny, reddish-brown colour and can grow up to 2.5 cm long. The grub of the June bug is white or yellowish and has a wrinkled, typical C-shaped body with a tan / brown head and six legs. They are quite small upon hatching, but at maturity are from 2 to 4 cm in length.

Scouting

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Scout for grubs on the sandier knolls of the field and in the areas where injury was evident in previous years. Using a shovel, dig up approximately 1 square foot of soil, about 7-10 cm deep, in at least five areas of the field and sift through the soil by hand, breaking up any clumps. From this, count how many grubs are in each sample.

Action Threshold: No thresholds are available for June beetle grubs, though two or more larvae indicate the need for immediate control. However, a preventive control based on seed treatment, is the most convenient measure, especially in zones where the pest occurs on a regular basis across the cropping seasons.