Are June Bugs Blind? – Can June Bugs See?

are june bugs blind

June Bugs or June Beetles, are an interesting insect. They appear at least once a year (hence their name). Specifically, they’ll show up around late May and throughout the month of June. You’ll even see them flying into your screens and windows. So that might make you wonder, are June bugs blind?

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Yes, June bugs might be the most annoying things we deal with. The question we should ask is: are June bugs blind? We’ll answer this question shortly.

In this quick write-up, we’ll also discuss a few fun facts about them. If you are somewhat of an insect enthusiast, this might be something right up your alley. Let’s answer this burning question about June bugs.

Are June Bugs Blind?

No, June bugs are not blind. This is assumed to be the case because June bugs have a habit of running into things when they are flying or walking around. The truth is, these insects are clumsy by nature.

Even worse, they’re flying skills are not the best. Unlike most insects where their wings move up and down, a June bug’s will curl and uncurl their wings in a figure eight motion. This is known as ‘snap-winging’.

They use their forewings to give themselves space to move around. They’ll have to get out of their shells first in order to do this.

Do June Bugs Have Eyes?

Yes, June Bugs have eyes, but many people question this fact because they appear so clumsy, constantly crashing into objects.

Why Do June Bugs Like Lights?

If you have a light on your porch during the summer you’ll probably have some June beetles crashing into your lights. Scientists don’t fully understand what the obsession is with lights for these insects, but even though they are extremely clumsy, they still find their way to porch lights. Take a look at our guide on how to keep june bugs away from your lights!

How Did the June Bug Get Its Name?

The June bug got its name because they appear around late Spring or early Summer. Specifically, they’ll pop up around the last part of May and stick around throughout the month of June. During this time, the Female June bugs will bury their eggs below the ground’s surface.

In about three to four weeks, the eggs will hatch and feed on grass and nearby plants. It will take a June bug larva three years to grow into adults. Between stages, they will form into a pupae and then transform into adult June bugs in approximately three weeks.

It’s astounding how the June bug’s growth cycle is longer than most insects that we see outdoors. Yet, the adult June bugs can be a source of annoyance for many of us. These North American insects are often found in forests and woodlands.

You can find them under logs or fallen trees. They’ll be calling these places home while feeding themselves in nearby areas. They will often be attracted to light (even during the night when your porch lights are on).

The big surprise here is that a June bug can’t be exposed to light for too long. If they do, they will die. Their bodies are not designed to handle light exposure for lengthy periods of time. June Bugs can appear to come out of nowhere, so check out our guide on where june bugs come from.

Final Thoughts On June Bugs And Their Ability To See

Now that you know that June bugs aren’t blind, you might have this interesting fact to share with someone. We hope you’ve learned a bit about these bugs that can be quite a nuisance to have around during the early summer months.

They’ll bump into your doors and window screens and can make a little noise. Rest assured, they are harmless and are not much of a threat like some insects are. Overall I hope this article has helped answer the question of are june bugs blind, and allows you to get a bit more clarity on these interested insects!

Check out our other pest guides!

Resources:

https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/insects/june-beetle/

About The Author:

David Floyd has 20 years of experience working as a pest control technician as well as running his own pest control company. His main goal is to provide accurate and helpful DIY tips to keep your home pest-free and how to identify different types of household pests!