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April 4, 2021
We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust! The following post was originally published on June 8, 2020.
If, like me, you enjoy sitting on a back porch in the evenings, you've probably seen a ton of beetles from this genus. This beetle belongs to the genus Phyllophaga, which contains more than 900 species! They're most commonly referred to as "May beetles" because they first begin emerging around May.
A May beetle's lifecycle lasts about a year. The larvae are known as "white grubs" and are considered a lawn pest since they like to eat grass roots, while the adults eat foliage and can cause a fair amount of damage to trees and plants when they emerge in large numbers.
These beetles are nocturnal and they have a tendency to congregate around bright lights, like your porch light.
ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends. This series of posts is made possible thanks to the support of VMNH Corporate Partner Carter Bank & Trust (www.cbtcares.com).
NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!
