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JULY 12, 2017 XIX NO.46

Village News

THEY

June Bugs Appear from Ground, Frighten Residents, Disappear

BY MARK FAUSZ
They came from the ground after lying in wait for
a year, biding their time until climbing the last couple
of inches into the sunlight. The frightening scene of
these creatures can be intimidating if they grab your
leg with their tiny legs and squeeze until shooed away.
Watching them emerge from the lawn can be an eye
opener. Do you run for the hills or face the slithering
yet to form insect on your own?
It’s only a June bug.
They may not harmful but they sure ain’t pretty.
Get up close and personal and you will find they are same family, scarab, laying eggs that will hatch
dressed quite flamboyantly with a bright-green, almost into larvae and then they dive deep into the soil,
translucent, shell. The bug is about the length of the then in the spring they will come up get closer to
first joint of your finger. the surface, pupate and become adults. “And the
“We actually put up laminated pictures here party begins again,” as Likins puts it.
because people want to know what these are... ‘are While in the larvae stage they may eat roots
they hornets? they ask.’ So we tell people that they’re of Bermuda grass and moles may pursue them.
harmless and they’re not doing anything but flying,” As Likins said, moles eat meat such as larvae
said T. Michael Likins, Director of the Chesterfield and voles are vegetarians. You can remember that
Cooperative Extension.
They fly only about a foot to 18 inches above the Read more on page 3
ground Likens indicated.
“That’s where the females, are going to be, that’s ABOVE: JUNE BUGS BROKE GROUND LAST
where she’s going to lay her eggs, that’s where the WEEK AFTER TWO DAYS OF RAIN. THE LITTLE
guys are looking for her,” said Likins. “You can get CREATURES DID NO HARM BUT SCARE A FEW
crop damage from her from the green June beetle but PEOPLE AND THEY WERE GONE BY SUNDAY.
in your landscape, it’s only going to be a background RIGHT: A SINGLE BUG CRAWLS ON THE LAWN
IN CHESTER LOOKING FOR A MATE.
insect.”
The June, Japanese, and May beetles are in the

Bellwood Elk herd welcomes new arrivals

BY BECKY ROBINETTE WRIGHT admiration for animals.
Move over Bambi, the Bellwood reserved some of his
Bellwood Elk herd, located at the acreage as a wooded park and permitted
Defense Logistics Agency (previously deer, rabbits and other wildlife to live
known as DSCR) at 8000 Jefferson and roam freely. Around 1900, he
Davis Hwy. has its share of delightful brought a pair of elk from Yosemite
cuteness, too, and the public is National Park and Washington state to
welcome to stop and take a peek. establish an elk herd on his land.
“So far we have four new The elk were a popular attraction
calves this year,” said James Parrish with curious visitors, and hundreds
Chief of the Environmental Division would visit on the weekends to view
Defense Logistics Agency Installation them.
Support at Richmond. “We are still in When James Bellwood died, the
the birthing season, so there may soon family decided to sell the land, but was
be more surprises.” concerned about the elk. The Army was
The elk herd itself has interested in purchasing the property,
historical significance; it was so the Bellwood family agreed to the
originally established around 1900 sale on the condition the Army would
by James Bellwood, the last private continue to keep the elk on the property
owner of the land that now occupies and provide for their care. The deal
the supply center. Bellwood was a was agreed upon and was sealed by a
A MONARCH ELK WITH SEVERAL COWS. PHOTO COURTESY OF DSCR FROM A FILE successful farmer and had a special
PHOTO FROM JULY 2015 BY AMY T. CLEMENT, DLA AVIATION CHIEF OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. Read more on page 3
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