Polyphylla decemlineata
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The ten-lined June beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata), 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, notably mature pine needles. 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. They can be an agricultural pest affecting a wide range of crops because their larvae feed on plant roots and can weaken or kill the plants.
They are relatively large in size, some growing to sizes as large as 1.5 inches (3 cm) or more. As in other members of this genus, the males have large distinctive antennae consisting of several lamellate plates, which they close up when threatened. The antennae are used to detect pheromones emitted by the females. The wing covers (elytra) have four long white stripes and one short stripe each. The underside of the thorax is covered with brownish hairs.
This species is commonly confused with Polyphylla crinita, also known as the Long Haired June Beetle. Polyphylla decemlineata... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Yellowstone National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Lake City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Denver | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Portland | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Sacramento | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Seattle | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ten-Lined June Beetle sighting in San Diego on a given day, based on 118 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 89th most-seen of the 693 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June to August
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Ten-Lined June Beetle in San Diego on a given day, against under 5% in September to May, the lowest months. Those are among San Diego's driest months, with about 5 mm of rain a month against 55 mm in February.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Ten-Lined June Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 9 cities where we can rate Ten-Lined June Beetle sightings, San Diego ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Salt Lake City (United States, about 10%) and Denver (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Ten-Lined June Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in San Diego (118 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
