Shrub Steppe - Eastern Washington State

Long-haired June Beetle

Eastern Washington

 

Wildlife viewing and recreation areas of Eastern Washington State

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Related information
The Shrub-Steppe Series - What About Darkling Beetles?

Related books
Polyphylla crinita LeConte - Harvard University
June Beetles - WSU
The Common June Beetle, Polyphylla spp. (Scarabaeidae)

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

 
Ten-lined June Beetle
Long-haired June Beetle

The Long-haired June Beetle or Polyphylla crinita is found inhabiting sandy locations in California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. These beetles buzz about loudly at night, attracted to lights. The hissing sound of this scarab beetle may attract attention when trapped in the web of the black widow spider, where I've found it caught a few times. Its larvae feed on sod and the roots of various shrubs and trees, including fruit trees, and may stress or kill them. Adult beetles are feed on conifer needles. The larva of the scarab hunter wasp is a parasitoid found to feed on living scarab larva and in ecologically healthy areas helps keep the pest in check.

The related look-alike, Ten-lined June Beetle or Polyphylla decimlineata, inhabits the Rocky Mountain states of the Western U.S. The Latin term decimlineata means "ten-lined" while crinita refers to the "long-haired" character of the coastal species.

 

Picture of long-haired june beetle with elytra open and wings showing
Long-haired June Beetle wings

 

Long-haired June Beetle underside
Long-haired June beetle underside

 

Picture of long-haired June Beetle or Polyphylla
Long-haired June Beetle male

 

Long-haired June Bug female - Polyphylla crinita
Long-haired June Beetle female

 

Long-haired June Beetle Larva - Polyphylla crinita
Long-haired June Beetle larva



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