# Ten-lined June Beetle (*Polyphylla decemlineata*) The Ten-lined June Beetle is a shiny beetle with ten stripes on its back. They are often seen flying around in the summer and love to munch on flowers and leaves. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens ![Ten-lined June Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Polyphylla_decemlineata_MHNT_femelle.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polyphylla_decemlineata_MHNT_femelle.jpg) ## Appearance The Ten-lined June Beetle is a large, stout beetle with distinctive creamy yellow and dark brown or black stripes running down its wing covers. It has a robust, oval-shaped body and feathery antennae, especially noticeable on males. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Scarabaeidae - **Genus:** Polyphylla ## Interesting facts - At night, bright lights attract these June beetles like a super-powered magnet! - If you hear a loud buzz flying past your ear at night, it might be one of these clumsy fliers! - Their distinctive stripes look like a natural barcode, unique among June beetles! - These beetles spend up to three years underground as giant grubs before transforming! ## Special abilities - **Chirping Warning:** Ten-lined June Beetle can rub parts of its body together to make a loud chirping sound that warns off predators. - **Pheromone Navigator:** Male beetles have large, fan-like antennae that help them smell female beetles from far away, even in the dark. - **Root Tunnel Builder:** The larvae have powerful jaws and strong legs to tunnel through soil and munch on plant roots underground. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Larvae eat plant roots underground; adults feed on tree leaves or don't eat much. - **Age differences:** Larvae consume plant roots, while adults may eat tree leaves or not feed significantly. - **Primary Foods:** Grass roots, Tree roots, Garden plant roots, Tree leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Striped Skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*) — Skunks dig up and eat both larvae and adult beetles. - **Hunts:** [American Crow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-crow) (*Corvus brachyrhynchos*) — Crows often prey on the adult beetles during their active season. - **Eaten by:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — The larvae (white grubs) feed on the roots of this common grass. - **Eaten by:** Garry Oak (*Quercus garryana*) — Larvae can damage the roots of oak trees within their range. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These beetles are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ten-lined June Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Ten-lined June Beetle's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is Ten-lined June Beetle? 25-35 mm ### How long does Ten-lined June Beetle live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Ten-lined June Beetle fly? 15 km/h ### What does Ten-lined June Beetle eat? Larvae eat plant roots underground; adults feed on tree leaves or don't eat much. ### Where is Ten-lined June Beetle usually found? Urban areas, Gardens ### How does Ten-lined June Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [City Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-park) — Colorado, US · Park - [Morrill County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morrill-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Old Town Albuquerque](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-town-albuquerque) — New Mexico, US · Neighborhood - [Point Dume State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-dume-state-beach) — California, US · State Park - [Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-sand-dunes-national-park-and-preserve) — Colorado, US · National Park - [Niobrara Valley Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/niobrara-valley-preserve) — Nebraska, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Ten-lined June Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ten-lined-june-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Ten-lined June Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ten-lined-june-beetle)