11 Natural Ways to Get Rid of June Bugs

Have you found June bugs swarming and crawling around your outdoor lights? If so, you know that these bugs can be annoying.

Unfortunately, these critters don’t just buzz and swarm—they can also damage garden plants.

This article discusses the best natural methods for controlling June bugs outside and inside the house. We’ll cover home remedies and natural commercial products to help keep them away from your property.

Identification

June bugs, also called May beetles or June beetles, are a group of scarab beetles commonly seen in late spring and early summer throughout North America.

Adult June bugs are most active during warm evenings in late spring and summer.

These beetles are strongly attracted to nighttime lighting, so you may see them flying around porch lights or street lamps at night. While they don’t bite humans, adult bugs and grubs can damage lawns, garden plants, and some crops [1].

June bug grubs live underground and feed on grass roots, which can cause brown patches and weakened lawns.

How to Get Rid of June Bugs Naturally

Below are some of the best natural remedies and home treatments for June bugs. We hope one or more of them work for you.

1. Hand-Picking

This is probably the least pleasant option. It requires you to touch an annoying bug. However, it may be the most cost-effective method.

To catch and kill June bugs, you need only a pair of gloves and a container of soapy water. Put on your gloves and carefully capture the bugs by hand.

Next, drop them in some soapy water. Doing so will help ensure that they do not come back.

If you want to take this approach, do it at night since June bugs are most active after dark.

Look for them on lights and windowsills. They may also be found in the vegetation around your home, such as hedges and trees, where they tend to congregate.

2. Natural Predators

Another great natural way to keep June bugs away is to introduce their natural predators. Some birds will go after these pests.

Frogs, snakes, skunks, lizards, and raccoons also prey on June bugs. Parasitic wasps may also feed on June bug grubs that are damaging your lawn and grass.

3. Molasses Trap

Make a simple DIY June bug trap with molasses, water, and an old bucket or large jar.

Mix equal parts water and molasses. For example, combine one cup of water with one cup of molasses.

Next, place the mixture where these pests are most frequent.

The sweet smell of the molasses may attract some June bugs. Some bugs may fall in and drown while trying to feed on the sugary mixture.

4. Monitor Outdoor Lighting

Switching to yellow “bug lights” or reducing outdoor lighting at night may help reduce June bug activity around your home.

5. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

Another natural yet effective way to help control June bugs is with diatomaceous earth (DE).

Diatomaceous earth works by destroying the protective wax coating on the bug’s exoskeleton. It then desiccates its body (dries it out).

Just sprinkle some around your plants, on your porch, and in other areas of your yard where you see flying June bugs and their grubs.

The only downside is that you must reapply it after heavy rain or irrigation because water washes the powder away.

Also, avoid applying diatomaceous earth directly to flowers, since it may also harm beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies.

6. Beneficial Nematodes

These microscopic roundworms attack and kill soil-dwelling insects, such as June bug larvae.

The nematodes seek out their prey. They then release beneficial bacteria into the insect’s body, which will kill it within 24 to 48 hours.

To use them, buy them from a garden center or online store, then apply them according to the instructions that come with your order.

However, make sure you water your lawn before applying the nematodes. Moist soil will help them get to where they need to be more quickly.

7. Essential Oils

Some essential oils may help repel June bugs. Some of these are cedar, eucalyptus, lavender, and pennyroyal.

You can use these essential oils to naturally repel the pesky insects by spraying them directly on areas where the June bug infestations are concentrated.

You can make a homemade June bug repellent spray by combining 15 drops of your chosen essential oil with a cup of water. Use this measurement as a guide when making larger batches of this plant-based repellent.

However, keep essential oils away from pets and children, and avoid spraying concentrated oils directly on plants without dilution.

8. Neem Oil

Neem oil can also help control June beetle grubs and adult beetles. It also works against a wide array of beetles, including Japanese beetles and Asiatic garden beetles.

Just make a spray by combining 2 tablespoons of neem oil and a teaspoon of mild liquid soap in a gallon of water. Spray it directly on affected plants in the early morning or evening.

9. Tomato Plants

Consider planting tomato plants in your garden for a satisfying, organic way to repel June bugs.

Some gardeners believe the strong scent of tomato foliage may help discourage certain beetles.

10. Vinegar

Vinegar also makes a natural bug repellent for June bugs and other insects on your plants and around the house. Mix 1 part water with 1 part vinegar, then add it to a spray bottle.

Spray it on affected plants and around outdoor areas where June bugs are active. However, test the spray on a small section of the plant first, since vinegar may damage delicate foliage.

11. Mycotrol ESO Insecticide

Mycotrol ESO is a biological insecticide that may help control June bugs and other garden pests.

It contains the fungus Beauveria bassiana, which can infect and kill June bugs and other garden pests. This fungus tends to work best in humid conditions.

Keeping June Bugs Out of the House

To keep June bugs (scarab beetles) out of the house, repair window screens, seal gaps around doors, and reduce bright lighting near entrances at night.

Takeaway

Whether you call them June bugs or May beetles, there are natural remedies for dealing with them. From natural sprays and traps to hand-picking, there are many natural approaches available to you.

Try one of these remedies and let us know which one worked best for you.