The Great June Bug Invasion of 2023
As I stepped out of my front door the other night, I was greeted by a swarm of June bugs flying around my porch light. It was like a scene from a horror movie. But what’s behind this sudden invasion of these pesky insects? I decided to dig deeper and find out.
June bugs are a common sight in many parts of the country, but this year’s swarm is particularly intense.
According to Eric Day, an entomologist at Virginia Tech, the main culprit behind this year’s June bug boom is the Green June Beetle. But what’s causing them to emerge in such large numbers? Day explains that it’s all about the weather.
“The main one you are seeing right now is the Green June Beetle,” Day said. “It ties into kind of the local rain. We’ve had some dry conditions as of late. We get a good little rainfall in localized places and then we get a big emergence of these June beetles coming out.”
The Green June Beetle is one of the most common species of June bugs.
But that’s not all - the heat is also playing a role in the June bug population explosion. Day notes that if the previous year was dry, the population will be smaller. So, what can we expect in the coming weeks? Will the June bugs continue to swarm our porches and backyards?
June bugs can be a nuisance, but they’re harmless to humans.
While the June bug invasion may be a nuisance, it’s worth noting that these insects are harmless to humans. They’re just a sign of the changing seasons and the cyclical nature of the insect world. So, the next time you’re swatting at a June bug on your porch, remember that they’re just trying to make a living in a world that’s full of predators and competitors.
June bugs may be a pest, but they’re also an important part of the ecosystem.
As I sat on my porch, watching the June bugs fly around the light, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder at the natural world. It’s full of mysteries and surprises, and sometimes it’s the smallest creatures that can teach us the biggest lessons. So, the next time you see a June bug, don’t swat at it - just take a moment to appreciate its place in the grand scheme of things.
