# Variegated June Beetle (*Polyphylla variolosa*) The Variegated June Beetle is a shiny, colorful bug that loves to munch on leaves. It has a beautiful mix of colors that makes it stand out in gardens and parks! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas, gardens ![Variegated June Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Polyphylla_variolosa_%28Melolonthidae%29_-_%28imago%29%252C_Cape_Cod_%28MA%29%252C_United_States.jpg&width=800) Photo: This image is created by user B. Schoenmakers at Observation.org , a global biodiversity recording project., CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polyphylla_variolosa_%28Melolonthidae%29_-_%28imago%29%252C_Cape_Cod_%28MA%29%252C_United_States.jpg) ## Appearance The Variegated June Beetle has an oval, stout body, typically reddish-brown to dark brown. It is often covered in dense patches of white or yellowish scales that create a mottled or 'variegated' pattern, making it look distinctly speckled. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Scarabaeidae - **Genus:** Polyphylla ## Interesting facts - Male June Beetles have huge, fan-like antennae to sniff out females! - Some people call them 'June Bugs' because they emerge in early summer! - Their grubs live underground for years, feasting on plant roots! - They are attracted to bright lights at night, often bumping into windows! ## Special abilities - **Feathery Antennae Sensors:** Variegated June Beetles have large, fan-like antennae that can detect chemical signals to find mates and food sources. - **Powerful Burrowers:** Their strong, spiny front legs help them dig into soil, allowing them to hide from predators and lay eggs safely underground. - **Nocturnal Flight:** They possess large compound eyes adapted for low light, enabling them to fly and navigate effectively after sunset to find mates. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults munch on tree leaves and shrubs, while their grubs feast on plant roots underground! - **Age differences:** Larvae (grubs) eat plant roots underground; adults feed on tree and shrub leaves above ground. - **Primary Foods:** tree leaves, shrub leaves, grass roots, other plant roots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Striped Skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*) — Skunks dig up and eat their grubs. - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Bats catch adult beetles during night flights. - **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Adult beetles feed on its leaves. - **Eats:** [Sugar Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sugar-maple) (*Acer saccharum*) — Larvae can damage maple tree roots. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Variegated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/variegated): Pertaining to plants with leaves or petals exhibiting different colors in patches or stripes. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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. - [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 not harmful, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Variegated 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 Variegated June Beetle's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is Variegated June Beetle? 25-35 mm ### How long does Variegated June Beetle live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Variegated June Beetle fly? 12 km/h ### What does Variegated June Beetle eat? Adults munch on tree leaves and shrubs, while their grubs feast on plant roots underground! ### Where is Variegated June Beetle usually found? Urban areas, gardens ### How does Variegated June Beetle hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Assateague State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/assateague-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park ## 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: [Variegated June Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/variegated-june-beetle)