June Bug Diet

Lawns

• June bug larvae, or white grubs, live in the soil and feed on roots and organic matter. They will eat the roots of grasses, vegetables and ornamental plants. If left untreated, your lawn could turn brown and die from root loss. However, there are ways to protect your lawn from June beetle larvae. You can use a product called Milky Spore on your lawn. It contains a naturally occurring bacterium that beetles ingest through feeding, which eventually kills them.

Crops

• June bugs are no friends to farmers. They often eat corn, peaches and grapes. June bug larvae also damage farmers' soil and their crops' root systems. Farmers can use sprays and pesticides to control the insect. Larvae can be controlled in the field by clean cultivation and crop rotation.

Trees

• June bugs also feed on many kinds of shade and fruit trees. They like to eat the leaves, bark and moss of trees, particularly walnut, plum or fig. June bugs' mouths do not allow them to eat most plants, so they prefer to eat over-ripened fruit because it is easy for them to chew. In great numbers, they can cause significant damage to trees by leaving large spots and damaged bark.

Gardens

• June bug larvae love to munch on vegetables and other garden plants like lettuce, raspberries and strawberries. Spray your garden with a commercial garlic oil spray to kill the bugs. The residue lasts on the leaves for about a week, so you will need to reapply it once a week. You can also use garden pesticides to control June bugs, but make sure to read the instructions carefully because you don't want to harm the good organisms, bacteria and plants that live in your garden.

Prevent June Bugs

• Deter June bugs and their larvae by planting garlic or onion in your garden. You can also purchase grub parasites like nematodes to control June bug larvae. You can buy them at your local garden store. Birds like to eat June bugs and their larvae, so put a bird bath in your yard to attract birds. Make sure you don't leave your porch or garden lights on because June bugs are attracted to light.