Rats are omnivorous animals and opportunistic eaters. They will consume almost anything that is given to them, but does that include June bugs? Can rats eat June bugs? Are June bugs safe for rats?

June bugs are referred to as any of the 100 species of beetles that are linked to the scarabs known from ancient Egyptian imagery. June bugs are also known as 'The June beetle' or 'May beetle'.

The typical June bug is reddish-brown in color and measures between half and five-eighths of an inch long. June bugs can harm pastures, lawns, and gardens.

They are categorized as chafers, which means that they eat vegetation, particularly leaves. Moreover, they may eat grass, flowers, fruits, grains (wheat, corn, etc.), and decomposing organic matter.

Therefore, they are known scientifically as Phyllophaga, which is the Greek word for 'leaf eaters’. June bugs live at night, and to avoid predators, they feed from nightfall till the end of the day.

Can Rats Eat June Bugs?

Yes, rats can eat June bugs. Even though June bugs are not harmful or poisonous to rats, eating too many of them can result in gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting or diarrhea. Therefore, rats can only eat June bugs in moderation. Additionally, it is essential to ensure that rats stay away from insecticide-soaked June bugs. Insecticides are the only things that can make June bugs become toxic to rats.

Facts About June Bugs

• The term 'June bugs' refers to many scarab beetles that come in North America's temperate regions around June.
• Other many species are also referred to as June bugs. They include the Green June beetle the chafer beetle, the ten-lined June beetle, and the Japanese beetle.
• The June bug’s size ranges from twelve to thirty-five millimeters. They are completely unmarked, and the texture of their underbodies is hairier.
• They are often referred to as backyard pests because they devour plant roots and damage vegetation.
• June bugs like the dark and are drawn to light. 
• However, longer periods of exposure to light are what kill June bugs. In the morning, they are usually discovered dead near windows and porch lights.

Are June Bugs Safe for Rats?

Rats can eat June bugs just fine in moderation. However, the insecticides that many homes use to get rid of June bugs and other common pests have the potential to make June bugs dangerous for the pet rat, not because of their own internal chemistry. 

Insecticides often contain the chemicals chlordane, DDT, and lindane. Because of the toxicity in the chemicals, a pet who consumes June bugs that have been marinated with them is at risk of getting sick.

Using a natural pest control method or a pet-friendly insecticide can keep the June bugs out of your yard and away from any toxic substances.

Overall, this is preferable for the pet rat because they can absorb harmful chemicals through the pads of their feet from conventional lawn and yard-care products.

Also, since chemicals can leak into groundwater, it is possible for the pet rat to unintentionally consume toxins if they drink from the small puddles in the yard.

Can Rats Eat Bugs?

Yes, rats can eat bugs. Bugs are a good addition to the rat’s diet because they are high-protein, nutrient-rich treats.

However, consuming too much protein can be harmful, and bugs can easily meet a rat's daily protein needs.

Therefore, when provided with a balanced pet diet, they should only be given occasionally as a treat or snack.

In this case, bugs are not only acceptable in the pet rat's food but also a welcome, healthy part of a balanced, nutritious diet. 

What Insects Do Rats Eat?

Since they are so few other food sources, no animals or rats are off limits when talking about scavengers.

Rats eat insects as a noon snack when it is on sale for them to enter a home. The following is a list of insects that rats can eat:

Cockroaches

Rats are among the top three enemies of cockroaches. Regardless of size, they can consume both German and American cockroaches. According to the Journal of Open Agriculture, the cockroach diet has no negative effects on rats.

Rats often have trouble catching cockroaches. Therefore, cockroaches may be a rat's occasional treat rather than a necessary part of its diet.

Beetles

Rats love sugary foods, but they only eat beetles to satisfy their appetites when they have nothing else to eat.

Even though beetles are one of the most common insect species, many people mistake them for bugs.

Compared to other winged insects, the first set of beetle wings is thicker and harder.

However, rats can become carriers of the same disease when they eat beetles because they bring fatal infections with them. So, be cautious and keep pests away from your property.

Flies

Rats enjoy eating flies among other things. Even though there are many other kinds of flies, cluster flies are the most preferred meal of rats.

Flies are the most common pests in homes. They consume and occupy everything on the property and in the house.

Rats can consume flies, but only if they need food. Even though rats eat flies, you cannot rely on them to catch flies. Also, rats can have trouble catching flies.

However, one thing you must remember is that flies and rats both consume the same foods, so you must take precautions.

Grasshoppers

The primary predators of grasshoppers are rats. Rats are opportunistic creatures that consume anything they can find.

Grasshoppers are plant-eating insects, and some species have been known to harm pasture, grains, and vegetables, especially when they destroy crops across a large region.

Caterpillars

Most wild rats have little trouble nibbling on caterpillars. Some rats are unaffected by the venomous spikes that some caterpillars may have as a kind of defense.

Rats find eating caterpillars to be a dependable and healthful source of energy.

Caterpillars move slowly, making them a relatively easy bug to catch. Rats can consume both the adults and the caterpillar larvae.

Even though all rodent species consume caterpillars, American deer mice are their most well-known predators.

Bottom Line

Rats can eat June bugs and they are not toxic to a rat's health unless they are sprayed, with harmful insecticides.

However, it is not really necessary for rats to consume June bugs as some other treats and snacks are much more healthy for rats than June bugs.