What is it with these junebugs?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Don't they know it's July?!?

[Floogeldy]

1. Rumor has it . . .

. . . that you can catch them, tie thread around their legs, and fly them like a small kite.

I don't like the idea, though, because it might hurt them.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. They make good bird food at least.

The catbirds in my yard have been feasting on them!

[In_The_Wind]

8. ... rumor

now where would you hear something like that

[Rocinante]

2. Indeed

Though there aren't as many of them around here as there were when I was a kid.

Our back yard back then had some big mimosa trees, and when they were in bloom the hummingbirds and butterflies would show off in the trees, and the junebugs would buzz along the ground.

It was great.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. I love mimosas

I wish I wasn't allergic to them. :(

For some reason, junebugs like to land on my neck; and their sharp little legs hurt!

[liontamer]

5. i haven't seen a june bug in years

and I really used to like them too :(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. That's odd.

Do you think pesticides are getting to them?
I remember as a kid (during the DDT years) there were hardly any insects around. We never saw dragonflies, butterflies were rare, and we hardly ever saw junebugs.

[liontamer]

7. not really

I moved to nyc, and just never see them here. Even when I'm at home (nashville) I never see them. There's been a lot of development around my parent's home so I think it's more of a habitat loss issue. But I remember seeing so many when I was a kid.

[madinmaryland]

9. They are providing our cat with endless fun.

He spends hours in the evening jumping and chasing after them!