Where Are The June Bugs?

Q: I’m wondering where the June bugs went? We always had so many but over the last ten years they’ve disappeared. I don’t miss them, just curious about what happened to them.

A: I have come to wonder the same thing about Japanese beetles. I remember that thirty years ago they were a big problem in Atlanta gardens and landscapes. Now, not so much. My guess is that natural diseases and predators have increased enough to limit the growth of the Japanese beetle population. Also, both June bugs and Japanese beetles are associated with open pastures near suburban lawns. With the increase in subdivisions, there’s less pastureland where their populations can readily develop.