June Bugs - From My Window 6/15/22

Janie Thibodeau Martin

Yesterday I was watering pots on the patio and noticed one of the ubiquitous June bugs in the typical June bug pose: rolled onto its back, unable to right itself. I make a practice of "tipping" them back over if they are still alive, but after reading several scientific articles about them, I learned I am apparently wasting my time.

June bugs are likely named for the month they usually appear in numbers big enough to capture our attention, but in Oklahoma they should have been called "May" bugs. Some mornings the driveway under the yard light there would be covered in invented beetles, and flocks of birds would be perched on the powerlines and trees nearby, feasting on the easy prey. There is an old Southern saying "on it faster than a duck on a June bug" for a reason. June bugs are a rich source of protein and fat (50% and 20% respectively,) and are in no position to defend themselves as they lay upside down and helpless.

Almost everyone knows what June bugs look like due to their numerous numbers, their comparatively large size and their distinctive appearance ?? like a blimp with absurdly skinny legs. They are slow and clumsy in flight, the antithesis of aerodynamic, and often are encountered at night in great numbers, swarming around porch lights. (There is no scientific consensus on what draws them to lights at night.) I know two people who have a phobia of June bugs, the result of a hapless bug accidently getting tangled in their hair. Their legs have thorn-like spikes on them, and they easily stick to cloth or hair, without any evil intention on their part.

June bugs belong to the group of beetles called scarabs, and more than 800 distinct species* of June bugs are known to science; doubtless there are still more deep in jungles around the world. They start life as a tiny, pearl-like egg in the ground; it hatches and becomes a white grub of large size. I now realize some of the grubs I encounter in my garden digging are likely June bugs. The larva eventually turns into a pupa/chrysalis and then emerges as an adult. The larva eat plant roots; the adults plant leaves.

Adults live a single season, and normally die no later than the end of summer. (Their full life cycle, from egg to adult, is around three total years.) When they draw close to death, their systems fail and the top-heavy beetles flop over on their backs. That's normally the sign they are terminally ill and inverting them is unlikely to help them survive.

The beetle larva's diet of below-ground roots, especially grass roots, means skunks and other critters dig to get at them. This makes them unpopular with those who pride themselves on their lawns, and golf course groundskeepers. I began to think of June bugs as "chickens of the insect world." Chickens are so delicious that EVERYTHING likes eating them ?? people, coyotes, foxes, hawks, skunks, raccoons. June bugs are similar ?? they are sought by raccoons, skunks, owls, moles, snakes and almost all smaller birds. So while some of their habits as larva can be annoying, they are highly valuable food sources both as larva and as adults for wildlife.

At least one indigenous tribe of the Americas ate June bugs, and those who advocate for eating insects now use them "crushed into biscuits, sprinkled on salad (also called "croutons of the sky,') and fill the cooked larva with cheese and wrap them in bacon." I guess the point of eating insects for modern converts is they are healthy protein but by the time you fill them with cheese and wrap them with bacon they are about as healthy for you as chain fast food.

June bugs are sometimes said to be blind, but they have fairly large and well-developed eyes you can easily see if you pick one up like I did. As one source I read said "this myth no doubt developed because June bugs are such clumsy, inept fliers." Amen to that!

Now that I know a bit more about these neighbors, I understand why I have trouble avoiding stepping on them in the early morning they are so numerous, and there's not a one to be seen an hour later. Our neighborhood birds regard June bugs as breakfast deliveries. I suppose if I ever got hungry enough, I would too.

But the thing that draws me to June bugs is I can identify with them. I have days I bumble around in a clumsy way. Sometimes I roll over and can't get up. June bugs look, and act, like fairy tale characters, or something Dr. Seuss would have created. I actually find them kind of cute.

I now know it's useless to do so, but I will continue to roll them over when I see them on their backs still alive. I'd want someone to do the same for me.

*Some of the information sourced in this column is from an on-line newsletter "The Conversation," academic rigor with journalistic flair; published by a non-profit committed to facts. I like their content as it is citizen-accessible science.

Book I just finished and loved: "Riverman: An American Odyssey" by Ben McGrath. (Non-fiction.) I read this in two days. It's about a middle-aged American man, a little out of shape, a little unhealthy, and rough in appearance, making marathon solo canoe voyages on numerous rivers across our country over a period of years. He is "homeless" ?? he had no fixed base anywhere, lived on his social security money and got medical treatment as a former serviceman at VA centers. His $300 canoe was in essence his home. He struggled with mental illness, and the kindness numerous people extend to him is heartwarming. It is a somewhat sad story, yet restores your faith in the basic goodness of most people at the same time.

You can reach me for commentary, alternative viewpoints or ideas at this e-mail address: JanieTMartin@gmail.com.

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date	Department	Headline
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Roger J. Balthazor
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Marion  E. Carvenough
08-10-2022	Obituaries	James D. Chevalier
08-10-2022	Obituaries	William Frederiksen
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Jerry Koester
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Art LeSage
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Katie N. Luna
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Robert Murphy
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Fred E. Ott
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Mark A. Paris
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Ronald Paulsen
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Duane W. Schwendner
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Gerald Severin
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Alice L. Shaver
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Keith E. Van Eyck
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Cheri L. Vermeulen
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Gerald "Jerry" Wojcik
08-10-2022	Obituaries	Anthony G. Wontor
08-10-2022	Front Page	Charges Filed In Fatal Crash Aug. 3 On Oconto Falls Hwy. I
08-10-2022	Front Page	Shortage Of Jailers Remains Major Problem For County
08-10-2022	Front Page	Peshtigo School Board Discuss Building Options
08-10-2022	Front Page	Marinette County Voters Elected Miller Sheriff, Brazeau Court Clerk
08-10-2022	Front Page	Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc. To Celebrate 75 Years of Service
08-10-2022	Perspectives	Ken Stodola's Letter to the Editor
08-10-2022	Perspectives	Judy Alwin's Letter to the Editor
08-10-2022	Perspectives	Linda Gould's Letter to the Editor
08-10-2022	Perspectives	Give Them a Break - From My window for 8/10/22
08-10-2022	Perspectives	Country Cousin 8/10/22
08-10-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Payant Family Held 75th Reunion July 31
08-10-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Lakes Country Library Expansion Gets $25,000 Grant from WPS Foundation
08-10-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Port of Valhalla Grand Opening Scheduled for Sat., August 27th
08-10-2022	Sports	WIAA's KAGE RETIRES, BRITZ HIRED AS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
08-10-2022	Sports	Cougars Look to Reload to Defend Title
08-10-2022	Community - Crivitz	Operation Bandshell Fundraiser Aug. 13th
08-10-2022	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Legion Post #413 Sells Flags
08-10-2022	Community - Crivitz	Town Of Stephenson Board to Meet Aug. 10
08-10-2022	Community - Crivitz	Fire Department Equipment Plan On Agenda For Crivitz Committee
08-10-2022	Community - Coleman	Pound Town Board To Consider Hired Clerk, Treasurer Positions
08-10-2022	Community - Coleman	Neil Diamond and Elvis Tribute at Equity
08-10-2022	Community - Coleman	Coleman Has Music in the Park Aug. 11
08-10-2022	Community - Coleman	Coleman Class of 1971 Reunion August 20th
08-08-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Magdalen Deschane on UM Twin Cities Dean's List
08-08-2022	Community - Wausaukee	First Annual Classic Car Show Saturday, Aug. 6th
08-08-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Goodman Historical Craft, Bake Sale Sept. 17
08-08-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Christian Music Duo, Blake & Jenna Bolerjack at Athelstane
08-08-2022	Community - Crivitz	Town Of Stephenson Board To Meet Aug. 10
08-08-2022	Community - Crivitz	Loomis Legion Auxiliary Brat Fray Sunday, Aug. 14
08-08-2022	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Ski Cats 60th Anniversary Alumni Show on Saturday Aug. 6
08-08-2022	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Board Okays Plan To Add K-9 Police Officer
08-08-2022	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Am. Legion Post to Celebrate US Coast Guard
08-08-2022	Community - Crivitz	American Legion Annual Open House Aug. 17th
08-08-2022	Perspectives	"Gathering Wild Roses" by Roger Lanich
08-08-2022	Perspectives	Judy Reid's Letter to the Editor
08-08-2022	Perspectives	Pete Pfankuch's Letter to the Editor
08-08-2022	Perspectives	Derrick J. McGee's Letter to the Editor
08-08-2022	Perspectives	David Johnson's Letter to the Editor
08-08-2022	Perspectives	Engaged in Battles - From My Window 8/3/22
08-08-2022	Perspectives	Country Cousin 8/3/22
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Douglas R. Aagaard
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Bernadine F. Brown
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Steven J. Delfosse
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Albert W. Ewaldt
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Virginia Ferdon-Shallow
08-08-2022	Obituaries	George Hoffman
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Louise Kawa
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Mary J. Kleinke
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Jean La May
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Darrell R. Laylin
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Scott P. Piantek
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Ronald J. Renk
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Karrie A. Sadowski
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Gary L. Seidl
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Eunice M. Schultz
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Ronald M. Shearer, Sr.
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Sandra L. Mayou
08-08-2022	Obituaries	Martin G. Wellner
08-08-2022	Community - Coleman	Pantry Continues Food Distribution Procedures
08-08-2022	Community - Coleman	Location Changed for Coleman FFA Alumni Annual Auction Aug. 6
08-08-2022	Front Page	Wes Olson Now Sexton For Riverside Cemetery
08-08-2022	Front Page	City Streets & Drainage Committee Okays Permits
08-08-2022	Front Page	Aug. 9 Primary Contests For Federal, State, County Offices
08-08-2022	Front Page	Chase Kuffel Hired As Peshtigo City Engineer
07-28-2022	Front Page	Trygve Rhude Sworn In As Marinette County Supervisor
07-27-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Students Win Poppy Poster Contest
07-27-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Back to School Program Now Registering
07-27-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Niagara Town Board May Stop Renting Town Hall
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Wanna Go Hunting? DNR to Host Intro To Hunting Webinar Beginning July 28th
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Gary B. Schahczenski's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Michael Sievert's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Gerry Schoenfeldt's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Cathi Malke's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Les Gertz's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Jessica Olson's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Ellen Hanneman's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Amy Grandaw's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Linda Gould's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Bob Blackbourn's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Bonnie C. Beamer's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Jeff Jandrey's Letter to the Editor
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Family Matters - From My Window 7/27/22
07-27-2022	Perspectives	Country Cousin 7/27/22
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Arnold R. Belair
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Donald A. Bertrand
07-27-2022	Obituaries	James K. Beyer
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Carol J. Borths
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Michael J. Enstrom
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Ruth E. Karkkainen
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Judith A. Kirt
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Margie A. Jones
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Jacob J. Kaster
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Michael J. Mann, Jr.
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Marie Marquardt
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Jeffery L. Meyer
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Marcia A. Peters
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Jean Ann Schmidt
07-27-2022	Obituaries	Barbara A. Stoltenow
07-27-2022	Obituaries	George D. Witkoswki
07-27-2022	Community - Crivitz	Wisconsin Woodland Owners Assoc. Annual Picnic Aug. 13
07-27-2022	Community - Crivitz	Twin Bridge Ski Team Learn To Ski Day July 31
07-27-2022	Community - Crivitz	Middle Inlet Okays $5,000 For Fire Station Plan Specs
07-27-2022	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz VFW Gun Show Aug. 13th
07-27-2022	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Library Bakeless Bake Sale Aug. 11th
07-27-2022	Community - Coleman	Location Changed for Coleman FFA Alumni Annual Auction Aug. 6
07-27-2022	Community - Coleman	Coleman Fire Department Announces Bike Winners
07-27-2022	Community - Coleman	August "Remember When" Storytelling Aug. 3 at Lena
07-27-2022	Front Page	MCIDC Discuss Loan Payments
07-27-2022	Front Page	Crivitz Ski Cats State Water Ski Champions
07-27-2022	Front Page	Athelstane Prohibits Nearly All Parking On Town Roads
07-20-2022	Community - Wausaukee	2022 Hot Rod and Classic Car, Motorcycle Show July 30
07-20-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Dunbar Board Tables Town Fee Schedule Until August
07-20-2022	Community - Wausaukee	Register for Wausaukee Back to School Program
07-20-2022	Perspectives	Stuart Millan's Letter to the Editor
07-20-2022	Perspectives	Marshall Lund's Letter to the Editor
07-20-2022	Perspectives	Kristen Edgar's Letter to the Editor
07-20-2022	Perspectives	Bill Blair's Letter to the Editor
07-20-2022	Perspectives	Who is Smarter? - From My Window 7/20/22
07-20-2022	Perspectives	Country Cousin 7/20/22
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Dorothy M. Benser
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Stephen K. Boehmke
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Dr. James A. Boren
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Scott C. Krueger
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Kris A. Miller
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Michael J. Mann Jr.
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Michael Oczus
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Dennis A. Schiefelbein
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Douglas E. Stacie
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Samuel J. Schwittay
07-20-2022	Obituaries	John E. Swanson
07-20-2022	Obituaries	Kenneth James Vieth
07-20-2022	Community - Crivitz	Town of Stephenson Airs Dog Complaints