How To Get Rid of June Bugs Naturally

If you’ve noticed clumsy beetles banging into your porch light or patches of dead grass in your yard during the warmer months, you’re likely dealing with June bugs. These beetles may seem harmless at first, but their larvae can cause serious damage to lawns and gardens. The good news? You don’t need to rely on harsh chemical sprays to get them under control.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through safe, effective, and natural ways to deal with June bugs from identifying them to treating your yard and preventing future infestations. All of these methods are family- and pet-safe, and many use cedarwood oil as a key ingredient for natural pest control.

What Are June Bugs?

Despite their name, June bugs can show up from May through August, depending on your region. These beetles are part of the scarab family and are typically around half an inch long, with reddish-brown or metallic green bodies.

A Few Quick Facts:

• Appearance: Oval-shaped, hard shell, poor flyers
  
• Behavior: Attracted to light, most active at night
  
• Life Cycle: Egg → Larva (grub) → Pupa → Adult
  
• Habitat: Lawns, gardens, under trees, compost piles
  

While adult June bugs are a nuisance, the real damage comes from their larvae grubs that live underground and feed on grass roots, often leading to brown patches and thinning turf.

Why Skip the Chemicals?

Most commercial insecticides do kill June bugs, but they come with a price. These sprays often contain neurotoxins and synthetic agents that pose risks to pets, children, pollinators, and soil health.

Natural methods, especially those using essential oils like cedarwood, target the bugs without harming the rest of your environment. They also support long-term prevention without the risk of chemical resistance.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of June Bugs

You don’t need a chemistry degree or a pest control contract to reduce June bug populations in your yard. Here are proven natural methods that are safe, effective, and easy to use.

1. Use Cedarwood Oil-Based Sprays

Cedarwood oil is a natural repellent extracted from the wood of cedar trees. It works by interfering with insects' pheromones the chemical signals they rely on for navigation, reproduction, and feeding.

Why cedar oil works:

• Confuses June bugs and disrupts mating
  
• Safe to use around pets, children, and plants
  
• Can be applied directly to lawns, patios, and garden beds
  

💡 Tip: Try an all-purpose bug spray made with cedarwood oil for routine use. Products like this one are ready to spray and don’t require dilution.

2. Introduce Natural Predators

Your backyard has potential allies if you let nature take its course. Birds, frogs, and beneficial insects can help reduce June bug populations especially during the larval stage.

Encourage predators by:

• Installing bird feeders or bird baths
  
• Avoiding synthetic pesticides that harm frogs and toads
  
• Adding native flowering plants that attract parasitic wasps and nematodes
  

These predators feed on both adult beetles and underground grubs, making them a powerful line of defense.

3. Trap Adult Beetles at Night

June bugs are clumsy flyers and highly drawn to light. You can take advantage of this by setting up simple, non-toxic traps in the evening.

DIY Light Trap Setup:

• Fill a bucket halfway with soapy water
  
• Place a solar light or flashlight above it
  
• Leave it out from dusk to midnight
  

Beetles will be attracted to the light, fall into the soapy water, and be unable to escape. This is a quick way to reduce their numbers overnight.

4. Apply Beneficial Nematodes to the Soil

Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that naturally occur in soil. Some varieties, like Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, feed on white grubs (the larval stage of June bugs).

To use nematodes:

• Purchase from a reputable garden center
  
• Mix with water as instructed
  
• Spray evenly across moist soil in early morning or late afternoon
  

This approach is especially useful if you notice brown patches in your lawn during summer.

5. Adjust Your Lawn Care Routine

A healthy lawn is less inviting to June bug larvae. You can discourage grub development with a few changes in your lawn maintenance routine.

Simple adjustments:

• Water deeply but infrequently to strengthen grass roots
  
• Mow at the recommended height for your grass type
  
• Remove thatch buildup to reduce egg-laying spots
  
• Avoid over-fertilizing, which attracts beetles
  

If you’ve had a June bug issue before, preventative lawn care is one of the best ways to keep it from coming back.

Garden-Safe Preventative Measures

If you grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers, protecting them from pests like June bugs is a priority. Fortunately, you can do that naturally without risking your plants’ health or flavor.

Cedar Mulch

Adding cedar mulch around your plants not only helps with moisture retention and weed suppression, but also deters insects.

• Repels beetles and other pests with its scent
  
• Breaks down slowly, giving lasting protection
  
• Looks great in flower beds and around trees
  

Netting and Row Covers

For sensitive plants or young seedlings, lightweight netting can protect against adult beetles without affecting sunlight or airflow.

How Cedarwood Oil Works

Cedarwood oil, derived from Juniperus or Cedrus trees, works on a biological level. Insects like June bugs rely on chemical cues (pheromones) to locate food, mates, and nesting areas. Cedarwood oil masks or disrupts these cues, making the environment confusing and unlivable for pests.

Here’s what makes cedarwood oil a strong choice for pest control:

• Natural insect repellent – affects scent-based navigation
  
• Antifungal and antimicrobial – benefits soil and plants
  
• Safe for use indoors and outdoors
  
• Non-staining and non-oily when properly diluted
  

Whether used in sprays or as a soil treatment, cedarwood oil creates an unfriendly space for June bugs without causing harm to your garden.

Best Natural Products for June Bug Control

At Cedar Oil Store, you’ll find several ready-to-use and concentrated products that are designed specifically for outdoor pest protection.

Here’s a quick comparison:

All these products are formulated with cedarwood oil and are safe around pets, kids, and pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Long-Term Prevention Tips

Once you’ve reduced the current infestation, a few good habits will keep June bugs from returning in future seasons.

Try the following:

• Apply cedar oil spray once a week during peak summer months
  
• Replace outdoor lights with yellow bug lights or keep lights off at night
  
• Aerate soil in spring to expose overwintering grubs
  
• Inspect your lawn regularly for signs of grub activity
  

Consistency is key. Most natural methods work best when applied proactively before a full infestation sets in.

Conclusion

Getting rid of June bugs doesn’t require toxic chemicals or expensive pest control visits. With natural repellents like cedarwood oil, a few practical tools, and some help from nature, you can manage these pests safely and effectively.

Cedar Oil Store makes it easier to protect your lawn, garden, and home the natural way. From sprays to soil treatments, our solutions are rooted in science and designed with families and pets in mind.