Anoxia australis, commonly known as a "June beetle" or "escarabajo sanjuanero," is a species of beetle in the family Scarabaeidae found in southern and central Europe, including Spain and Portugal. It is a nocturnal or crepuscular insect, with adults feeding on the leaves of trees and the grubs damaging roots in the soil. While adult feeding is often minor, high populations can cause defoliation, and the larvae can damage plants, especially young or stressed trees. Appearance and life cycle Adults: Dark brown and black, oval-shaped beetles, around \(2.2-2.5\) mm long, with hardened wing shells and distinctive white and tan patterned setal bands on their larvae.Larvae: "Grub-like" and hairy, growing up to \(7\) mm long, and feeding on the roots of various plants and grasses.Life cycle: The life cycle is typically about four years.
After mating, females lay eggs in the soil. The larvae overwinter underground, feed and grow during the following spring and summer, and repeat this process for several years before pupating. Habitat and feeding habits Habitat: Prefers warm, sandy areas and is found on a range of trees and shrubs, including oaks, pines, and ornamental plants.Adults: Primarily feed on the foliage of various trees.Larvae: Feed on the roots of host plants, which can include vegetables, fruit trees, vines, and olive trees.
Damage and control Adults: Generally cause minor damage, but in high numbers, can cause significant defoliation.Larvae: Can damage the root systems of plants, stunting growth or, in severe cases, killing younger or stressed trees.Control: Control measures include chemical and biological agents, and managing populations in a way that doesn't harm the wider ecosystem. Behavioral characteristics Activity: Adults are active at dusk and dawn, flying to find mates.Flight: Attracted to light, they can be seen flying around lamps.Mating: Adults gather on trees to mate, and sometimes multiple males mate with a single female.Predators: Adults and larvae are preyed upon by other organisms, such as Carabid beetles.
