When the Swamp Milkweed plants bloom, I regularly check the blossoms for Monarch Butterflies. On this day, I found Green June Beetles instead.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. Green June Beetles emerge to mate in late July and August. This one was feasting on the nectar of the lovely mauve flowers of the Swamp Milkweed.
The chunky one-inch-long beetles of the southeastern U.S. are commonly seen flying low to the ground in yards in mid to late summer.
My only question is: if they hatch in late July, why are they called Green June Beetles?
© Bruce Stambaugh 2026
Roadkill Crossing 
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