Turn off the porch light, they’re baaaaack!
Those creepy June bugs that seemed to disappear over the past week with the recent cold weather returned in force after dark on Thursday as temperatures returned to more seasonal norms.
Christine Noronha, a research scientist at the Charlottetown Research and Development Centre, said the pests never really went anywhere.
“They were hiding under the soil. Now they’re busy. When it gets warm, that’s when they find their mates (and food),’’ Noronha said. “Once they mate, they’re busy laying their eggs. They’re searching for sites to lay their eggs.’’
Noronha said June bugs are like many other insects, they simply don’t like to come out when it turns cold.
“Insects are cold-blooded. They like to warm their muscles up before they can start flying. On warm days their muscles are warm, so they can fly, whereas if it’s cold they have to try and conserve their energy. They kind of stay quiet (when it’s cold) under the bushes or in the shrubs.’’
“People don’t like these little spines on their legs. When they land on you those spines kind of stick to your clothing. They feel really sticky. (Even if) you try and throw them off, they’re still stuck to you. I think that’s what scares people. But, they don’t bite. And, they make this loud buzzing sound.’’
Christine Noronha
Noronha said continuous cold weather, such as what P.E.I. experienced this week, can impact the big beetles.
“(It means) they’re not active enough to move around and lay their eggs in different locations. They’re using a lot of their energy to stay alive instead of for reproduction. (And if it’s cold) they can’t get something to eat and they don’t move around as much. Their muscles are not strong enough.’’
Poll: How many June bugs have you seen so far this year?
Noronha said it’s easy to see why people seem to dislike June bugs so much.
“They’re big,’’ she laughs. “People don’t like these little spines on their legs. When they land on you those spines kind of stick to your clothing. They feel really sticky. (Even if) you try and throw them off, they’re still stuck to you. I think that’s what scares people. But, they don’t bite. And, they make this loud buzzing sound.’’
Noronha said June bugs can also be very destructive to a lawn where they lay their eggs, feeding on grass roots.
Noronha said people can try using nematodes, a worm that will attack June bug larvae and infect it like a disease.
They’re also an attractive food source for animals such as skunks, which like to dig up the larvae.
“They love to eat them because they’re high in protein. It’s a good food source for skunks.’’
