June Bug Larvae (forum)

Luke :) starts with ...
My question is how do i rid myself of June bug larvae over a large garden?
These little critters are relentless!

I've already lost my Gulfcoast blueberry to them and my red kiwi-berry has come under attack.

There eggs hatch in winter and they eat away at the roots unbeknownst to me.
Symptoms only appear in spring when new growth is weak and droopy.

Also, any pot I put onto the clay they will crawl into the holes and eat away at the roots as well.
I will eventually have to line all my potted plants with wire screening I think, unless there is a better material?

Can anyone help, any information would be greatly appreciated.


Time: 12th September 2018 3:50am

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Julie says...
What are June bugs? Only ever heard of them in US publications. A scientific name might help.

Time: 17th September 2018 8:12pm

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Luke :) says...
There called June Beetles or Christmas Beetles.
&quote;Christmas Beetle is a name commonly applied to the Australian beetle genus Anoplognathus&quote; wiki.

I've added two images for reference.

Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 7th October 2018 9:48pm

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Julie says...
They don't look anything like the Christmas beetles I know, which
are much prettier. Also, Christmas is in December, so why did you call them June beetles?

These are the ones I'm familiar with, and don't appear to cause problems for gardeners.

https://www.backyardbuddies.org.au/backyard-buddies/christmas-beetles

Time: 9th October 2018 9:29pm

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brad16 says...
What are called 'June' Bugs and 'Christmas' Beetles are different things, although both get their names in similar ways.
In America, June Bugs are named so because they are commonly seen around June (in summer) when they are fully developed adults.
In Australia, Christmas Beetles are named so because they are commonly seen around Christmas time (in Summer), but their decorative green-red reflective hues also gives them a bit of a Christmas decoration feel. So it's really only the species with colourful iridescent hues that attract the Christmas Beetle name.
The first picture in Luke's post shows what is commonly known as a 'Curl Grub'. These are what gardeners find in their gardens and pots, 'curled' up in the roots of their plants. The 'Curl Grub' (beetles in their larvae stage) are usually the ones to get the bad press from gardeners who are digging their gardens and repotting plants.
If you find a Curl Grub and do some web research to find out what it is, and stumble onto an American website, they may indicate that you have June Bugs. The Curl Grubs in Australia are more likely the larvae of other beetles. Christmas Beetles maybe, but more than likely those other black ones I don't know the name of. Scarabs?
More than likely, I'd assume you are aiming your frustrations on the larvae (Curl Grubs) rather than what ever beetle they mature into. Searching for control methods would then be much easier searching for 'Curl Grubs'.

Time: 11th October 2018 11:20am

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Luke :) says...
Thankyou for laying out the information.

And sorry Julie for the confusion, i mistakenly gave them the wrong identification.

Well they do mature into the beetles like in picture 2 and I did find that they are commonly called Curl Grubs in there juvenile stage and i can use Yates Garden Complete to eradicate them.




Time: 21st October 2018 12:51am

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Luke :) says...
Can you rename threads at all in Daleys forum?
And if so what should it be called?

Time: 21st October 2018 12:52am

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brad16 says...
Hey Luke,

I wouldn't worry about it. Infact it's probably better to leave it the way it is. No harm done.

Even though 'June Bug' is a cute name, I'd feel happier thinking I was killing them than a 'Christmas Beetle' :)

Time: 21st October 2018 3:01pm

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