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Ten-lined June beetle or Polyphylla decemlineata <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/139476/ten-linded_june_beetle_or_polyphylla_decemlineata.html" title="Ten-linded June beetle or Polyphylla decemlineata"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/5803/139476_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=kMPMSHbuFuU5Maq%2BMNrUe6OvSSg%3D" width="200" height="112" alt="Ten-linded June beetle or Polyphylla decemlineata June beetle showing Flabellate antennae -  from the Latin flabellum, meaning fan. The terminal segments extend laterally, with long, parallel lobes that lie flat against each other forming a plate-like structure. Looks like a folding paper fan when open.<br />
This antennae increases surface area and can be used to detect odors and tastes, possibly even wind speed and direction, heat and moisture.<br />
Laowa 100mm lens, f3.2,  1/40 sec,  2X, ISO 100, 54 stacked images, 103 &micro;m step length, 5 fix LED, with diffuser tube Geotagged,Polyphylla decemlineata,Summer,Ten-linded June beetle or Polyphylla decemlineata,Ten-lined June beetle,United States" /></a></figure><br />
June beetle showing Flabellate antennae - from the Latin flabellum, meaning fan. In The terminal segments extend laterally, with long, parallel lobes that lie flat against each other forming a plate-like structure. Looks like a folding paper fan when open.<br />
This antennae increases surface area and can be used to detect odors and tastes, possibly even wind speed and direction, heat and moisture.<br />
Laowa 100mm lens, f3.2, 140 sec, 2X, ISO 100, 54 stacked images, 103 &micro;m step length, 5 fix LED, with diffuser tube<br />
<br />
They are not very smooth fliers but rather clumsy because they barely reach eight kilometers per hour. They are strongly attracted to lights, causing them to bump and buzz against window screens, cover walkways and porches as they roll on their backs with their legs in the air. The most common grasses it feeds upon are Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, and tall fescue, all of which are plentiful in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Has little human benefit unless you like to fish because they make a great fish bait. Bass particularly find them tasty even in place of traditional worms.<br />
 Geotagged,Polyphylla decemlineata,Summer,Ten-lined June beetle,United States Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Ten-lined June beetle or Polyphylla decemlineata

Ten-linded June beetle or Polyphylla decemlineata June beetle showing Flabellate antennae -  from the Latin flabellum, meaning fan. The terminal segments extend laterally, with long, parallel lobes that lie flat against each other forming a plate-like structure. Looks like a folding paper fan when open.<br />
This antennae increases surface area and can be used to detect odors and tastes, possibly even wind speed and direction, heat and moisture.<br />
Laowa 100mm lens, f3.2,  1/40 sec,  2X, ISO 100, 54 stacked images, 103 µm step length, 5 fix LED, with diffuser tube Geotagged,Polyphylla decemlineata,Summer,Ten-linded June beetle or Polyphylla decemlineata,Ten-lined June beetle,United States

June beetle showing Flabellate antennae - from the Latin flabellum, meaning fan. In The terminal segments extend laterally, with long, parallel lobes that lie flat against each other forming a plate-like structure. Looks like a folding paper fan when open.
This antennae increases surface area and can be used to detect odors and tastes, possibly even wind speed and direction, heat and moisture.
Laowa 100mm lens, f3.2, 140 sec, 2X, ISO 100, 54 stacked images, 103 µm step length, 5 fix LED, with diffuser tube

They are not very smooth fliers but rather clumsy because they barely reach eight kilometers per hour. They are strongly attracted to lights, causing them to bump and buzz against window screens, cover walkways and porches as they roll on their backs with their legs in the air. The most common grasses it feeds upon are Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, and tall fescue, all of which are plentiful in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Has little human benefit unless you like to fish because they make a great fish bait. Bass particularly find them tasty even in place of traditional worms.

    comments (6)

  1. Wonderful! His antennal plates are huge! Fun fact -- if you push gently on its elytra, it will "hiss". Posted 3 years ago
    1. I wish I could have captured the antennae plates while they were open. I started to pry them apart but was afraid I'd damage the whole specimen. Love the hiss it makes. Posted 3 years ago
      1. It's good to see them closed like this also, though. When closed, they almost look like solid wood. Pretty cool! Posted 3 years ago
        1. Thanks Christine, hadn't thought of that. Posted 3 years ago
  2. Nice follow-up, William. Saw your reply on the other post in my notifications, but couldn't respond because the photo is now deleted. I think this second version drastically improves on all the things we discussed. Posted 3 years ago
    1. Thanks for the feedback Ferdy. Truly appreciate it. Posted 3 years ago

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The ten-lined June beetle, also known as the watermelon beetle, is a scarab beetle found in the western United States and Canada. The adults are attracted to light and feed on foliage. They can make a hissing sound when touched or otherwise disturbed, which can resemble the hissing of a bat. This sound is made by their wings pushing down, forcing the air out between their wings and back.

Similar species: Beetles
Species identified by William Bodine
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By William Bodine

All rights reserved
Uploaded Sep 22, 2021. Captured Sep 20, 2021 12:47 in Fire Rd 651, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA.
  • Canon EOS 70D
  • f/13.0
  • 1/41s
  • ISO100
  • 50mm