FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
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Ten-lined June beetles belong to the Scarabaeidae family of the Insecta class. They are known worldwide for the unique linear patterns on their wings. These bugs have poor eyesight, however, adult watermelon beetles are very much attracted to lights. Their habit of getting attracted to lights makes it easier to catch them using tools like a backlight cage and more. They are native to the Northern hemisphere, and widely found in Canada, and the northern and western parts of the United States.
These beetles feed on the leaves and roots of trees. They very much like to drink juices from raspberries and grapefruits. They are considered enemies of trees, as they can decay trees they feed on. They can remain in their larvae state for four years. On the other hand, adults live less than a year.
To learn more, we have collected a set of interesting facts about ten-lined June beetles for you to read. You can also learn more about fascinating wild animals and insects by reading up more articles on the longhorn beetle and the soldier beetle.
A ten-lined June beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata) is a scarab beetle, from the Polyphylla genus of the Scarabaeidae family. They are popularly known as the watermelon beetle and the June bug.
The ten-lined June beetle belongs to the Insecta class of the Animalia kingdom.
As they are very small insects, with a vast range. Hence, it is extremely difficult to have an exact estimate of their population.
They are found throughout the northern and western United States, and Canada as well. They are spotted in the states of Kansas, Arizona, California, Nebraska, and Nevada. They are largely available, especially in the state of Colorado.
These beetles live on farmlands, shrublands, and forests. They are known as agricultural pests. larvae live in the soil and feed on plant roots.
They are solitary insects. However, they form a breeding pair right before the mating season.
They can remain in their larvae state for three or four years. After emerging out from the soil as an adult, they live for less than a year.
They are named 'June Beetles' as the adults emerge from the soil in the month of June. When female June beetles emerge from the soil, they eject pheromones to attract male June beetles.
After mating, the female June beetle hides in the soil. They lay their eggs around 5-14 in (12.7-35.6 cm) deep in the soil. They lay about 60-70 eggs. The grubs hatch out of their eggs after two and half weeks. The grubs then take shelter underground for about the next two years.
The ten-lined June beetle species is not listed in the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
This species of beetle are easily identified by four white lines on their elytra. They possess antennas with lamellate plates. In appearance, they are typically blackish and reddish-brown.
This species of beetle appear stunning and cute due to the special linear patterns on its wings.
Researchers have found that most of these beetles have poor eyesight. Along with sound and vibration, they use pheromones as a medium to communicate, especially while forming a pair.
These bugs are typically 0.9-1.2 in (22-30 mm) in length. With proper nutrition, the grubs can grow up to 2 in (5 cm). They are nearly half the size of Hercules beetles.
Similar to other beetles, the ten-lined June beetle can move and fly with great speed. However, the exact speed at which they move is not yet known.
Being such tiny creatures, the exact body weight of their species is unknown.
There are no particular names given to male and female beetles.
Baby June beetles are simply called 'larvae'. They can grow up to 2 in (5 cm) and are white in color.
The June bug primarily feeds on plant-based foods such as the leaves of walnut trees, oak trees, and plant roots. Any plant roots that these grubs consume will decay as a result. They are categorized as agricultural pests and seen as trees' enemies.
These bugs are frequently searched for on Google under the phrases 'ten-lined June beetle bite' and 'ten-lined June beetle poisonous'. They are neither deadly nor venomous, in actuality. However, because they can decompose any plant they eat, farmers and gardeners view them as harmful.
Beetles can be good pets, as they are very calm and easy to maintain. There are a good number of people who keep beetles of various species as pets.
As they are a nuisance in the garden, gardeners can use any type of non-liquid insecticide, containing carbaryl, to get rid of them.
During warmer evenings in spring, adult watermelon beetles tend to move towards lights, even more than usual.
There are two types of beetles, carnivorous and herbivorous. The carnivorous beetles can reduce the population of other undesired insects. However, as the watermelon beetles are herbivorous, they can't help in reducing other harmful insects. On the other hand, they can decay plants pretty easily, as they feed on plants. Apart from that, they are very calm-natured.
These beetles can remain in the larval state for up to four years. During winter, they go deep under the soil, and after three weeks the adult watermelon beetles emerge from the soil. They stay out for nearly a year, as these adult watermelon beetles live less than a year.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods including the eastern Hercules beetle and the atlas beetle.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our beetle coloring pages.
https://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM:Tenlined_June_Beetle
https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Ten-Lined-June-Beetle
https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/almond/Tenlined-June-Beetle/
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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