(01/04/2004) Hercules Beetle
Just finished looking at your page of beetles and think I have found mine.  Found this specimen on my patio in Charleston, West Virginia, in July 2000.  I am into the hobby of scrapbooking pictures and was including this one in my "Flora nd Fauna" album.  Hope you enjoy. 
S. Humphrey

Dear Sue,
Thank you for the awesome photos. We are sorry that in the interest of space, we could not include your artwork as presented, but we have included several of the better images. They are among the best photos of Dynastes tityus we have received. Your male specimen has impressive horns. I believe this enormous beetle intimidates photographers into making out of focus images.   

(12/25/2003) Burying or Carrion Beetles
Here is the picture of the beetles we need to ID...
Not sure is this is a male female pair as they look a little different.
Thank you...and a big thank you for the web site you sent we are enjoying it.
Jeffrey & Margaret

Dear Jeffrey and Margaret,
You have a species of Carrion or Burying Beetle, Family Silphidae. According to the Dillons, they are "Usually large, loosely constructed beetles, that have the body black, sometimes ornamented with yellow or red. ... Decaying animal matter, especially dead birds, mice, and snakes, is the usual habitat of these species, though some occur on decaying fungi. The eggs are deposited in the bodies of small mammals or fragments of decaying flesh, which are then buried by the adults to a depth of from several inches to a foot. Two beetles working together can bury a mouse or other small animal very rapidly." Eric writes to us that: "The burying or carrion beetles are Necrodes surinamensis, male on left with the enlaged hind legs, female on the right."

(12/14/2003)  Bess Bug inquiry
Hi folks,
An FYI note.
Just discovered your site while shearching for info on "Bess Bugs" (i.e. beetles of family Passalidae).  I noted two inquiries about mystery beetles on 10/15/03 and 11/1/03 that you identified as members of Passalidae.  According to my copy of "A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America", the two beetles pictured are actually members of family Lucanidae, specifically, they appear to be similar to Ceruchus piceus.  However, I realize that my book (given to me when I was about 8 for Christmas), may  be out of date, and perhaps some reclassification has occurred.  However, my personal experience with these particular beetles is that they don't live in rotted wood, and tend to be predators in forest undergrowth, as opposed to the more common Passalidae, which I spent my childhood evicting from various logs.  Their elytra do look more like bess bugs however.
Anyway, back to my actual work (protein crystallography, not sure where I went wrong).
Thanks,
D. Coleman

Dear D. Coleman,
Thank you for your editorial check. We just researched our misidentification in the book you cited by Dillon & Dillon and have come to the same conclusion that you did. Our edition states that they breed in decaying logs of beech, oak and other trees. Though we pride ourselves on copious research, we do make mistakes and want to thank you for bringing this error to our attention. We do not want to misinform our curious and often frightened readers.

Thanks for your response to my "Bess Bug" inquiry.  I'd also like to complement you on an excellent site, and will use it in my continuing efforts to teach my wife not leave the county over every creature I find.
-David

(11/1/2003) Middle Eastern Ceruchus
mr bug man
i found this bug in a park near where i live and i have no idea what it is i live in bahrain in the middle east and i have never seen this bug beforeps it lives in the ground

Your beetle appears to be a member of the genus Ceruchus. Adults are predators and they breed in rotten wood.

Probably a Ground Beetle(10/15/2003) Originally misidentified as a Bess Bug! Later Misidentified as a Stag Beetle. We stand corrected.
I live in northeastern Illinois. I found this bug in our basement. Now my kids won't go down there. My biggest concern is that whatever it is lives in colonies and my house is infested. When its touched or moved it plays dead and tucks in its legs. Please help!
Larry

Dear Larry,
You have a member of the Stag Beetle family Lucanidae, probably Ceruchus piceus. They are predators that will not harm you or your children. They breed in rotten logs. Adults are sometimes attracted to lights at night, which could explain it's appearance in your home.

corrected...
(08/31/2004)  Hey Daniel,        
Glad to see your back up and running, and with new photos. Was just browsing the site, and I hate to mention this, but the beetle that was "Originally misidentified as a Bess Bug!", has been re- misidentified.        All stags have clubbed antenna, but the one in the photo has thread-like antenna. This is most likley a ground beetle of the genus Scarites. Here are links to two pics that may help. Ceruchus:
Scarites:     
Regards,
Steven

(10/12/2003) Hi
I fancy myself as an amateur entomologist, but I recently found two creatures that have me stumped.  Four times over the course of the last month I found what appears to be a large grub.  I initially thought
the animal was a centipede of some sort, but upon closer inspection it seemed to be an insect.  It had 7 or 8 segments with 6 legs on the second segment.  It trailed its long tail after it with amazing speed.  Each shiny, plated segment had 2 black spots on a background of red/rust and yellow.
Today while walking in a nearby forest (this time with camera in hand) I spotted a bizarre blue grub.  It had the same body plan as the first animal I described: segmented with 6 legs up near the front...except this one was a dazzling iridescent blue.    I was able to snap a couple of nice photos.
I am guessing that these are Coleoptera spp.  larvae.  Am I correct??
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.  This is driving me nuts!
Thanks!
Melody McFarland
Durham NC

Dear Melody,
It appears as though you have photographed the elusive glowworm, either a female or a larva. Glowworms are beetles from the family Phengodidae. It is a small group of relatively uncommon beetles closely related to Lampyridae or Fireflies. Liker the fireflies, glowworms are capable of luminescence, or glowing in the dark. They are usually found in foliage or on the ground. The adult females of many species are wingless and luminescent. They are predaceous. I will try to get additional information on your exact species which is an amazing color. Here is the only photo I could locate online of a pair of glowworms, and as you can see, structurally, the female looks much like yours in everything but color.

Hi Daniel!
Thanks for the prompt reply!  I combed through every insect book I have and was not able to find anything. Your website is fantastic!
thanksagain
Melody

(10/11/2003)
My wife is finding these bugs and is getting all worked up about it. I told her it was a beetle but she is not convinced.


Poor squalshed thing. It is a member of the Beetle Family Caribidae, known as Ground Beetles. They are beneficial as they are predators of other insects and arthropods as well as snails, bane to the home gardener. They also love eating caterpillars and cutworms. They generally are active at night, and will run quickly when disturbed.

(10/10/2003)
I am perticuarly interested in one of the insects on the section "what's that bug". I believe you called it an unicorn beetle. I am taking a vacation around texas soon, and am hoping to see on of these speciecs if you could would you please tell me the location of these beetles and what seasons they are out in. There is also another beetle that I woud like some info. on it is called a silver smith or glorious beetle it is found in arazona I belive it feeds on juniper trees. My name is Miles Kirk I am twelve years old and
live in Lubbock T.X. any info would be gladly apriciated.
Thanks, Miles

Dear Miles,
All of the letters we have gotten from people who have found Unicorn Beetles of the genus Dynastes, have found specimens in the summer months from mid July to late August. Often insects emerge from the pupae because of specific weather conditions, often warm sunny days after a rain. The grubs feed on rotting wood and leaf litter, so woody areas are a good place to search. Bear in mind that a certain amount of luck is necessary to locate any elusive specimen. Though the beetles are not considered rare, they are often difficult to locate. All of the letters we have received were from readers who were in the right place at the right time. I myself hoped for years to see and catch a Luna Moth growing up in Ohio, and though they are found there, no matter how I tried, I never spotted one. Good luck. The Glorious Beetle, Plusiotus gloriosa is found on silver tipped western juniper trees in Arizona at high altitudes, so a trip to the mountains might prove fruitful. Numerous authors have called this the most beautiful beetle in the U.S.; metallic gold stripes and hologram green colors support this statement. Both insects you are curious are favorites of collectors. Here is an image of Plusiotus gloriosa.


Ed. Note: (07/24/2005) Jessica from Arizona just sent in this image, which now replaces one pilfered from the web.

(10/3/2003) Dear Bugman,
Two weeks ago (Mid September), while in the countryside near the central Italian western coast, this friend flew onto our set and settled in. He moved slowly and wasn't at all intimidated by our presence, poking or prodding. What is the name of this creature; it looks somehow familiar to me, although this was my first trip to Italy.
Thanks again!
Tomás Arceo

Dear Tomás,
I thought your beetle looked like a member of the Metallic Wood Boring Beetle family, Buprestidae, but I am not really familiar with European species. I did a google search on Buprestidae Italy and found the following picture with the scientific name Capnodis tenebrionis.

I did a new google search and found this amazing site that needs to be translated:
Your beetle goes by the common name Mediterranean Flathead Woodborer. The adults feed on the leaves of apricot trees, almond trees and other stone fruits. The larvae bore into the roots and cause great damage.
Thank you for the great photos.

Moth Mimic!
(10/2/2003)Mr. Bugman:
I am doing a school project on insects. My dad found this bug. We think it is a thin-banded lichen moth. Could you please confirm that or let me know what it is. It is beautiful. It does have hind wings also. I live in Knoxville, TN. Please let me know if this is a thin banded lichen moth. It was found in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Thanks, Jim Asbury

Dear Jim,
Though your insect resembles a Lichen Moth, it is actually a beetle. The family Lycidae are known as Net Winged Beetles. They inhabit woodlands where there is sufficient water to support a luxuriant growth of shrubs and these beetles can be found in numbers, resting on the leaves or flying with a slow, mothlike flight. Adults subsist largely on the juices of decomposing vegetable remains, such as decaying wood, but they occasionally feed upon small insects. Your beetle is a member of the genus Calopteron, possibly C. discrepans or C. terminale.

Burying Beetle
(9/11/2003)
Hi, glad to find your site.  You can answer at my home address I've sent a
copy to.  I found an insect in my bathroom on the floor, took it outside. Found an identical one a few days later, this time in the sink.  I did make a digital photo of it and was wondering if I may send it to you as an attachment.  I believe this creature was about an inch long, looks like a beetle but the rear half of the body has no wings.  If it lands upside down it cannot right itself.  Its base color is black, with bright accents on the rear half of the body.  Let me know about the pic and I'll send it right off to you.  Its mouth parts are easy to see.  It was not touchy and had no problem with crawling right on to a piece of paper so I could take it outside.

You have found a Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus species, which is an extremely interesting beetle. The adults are capable of burying the entire carcass of a small animal, like a mouse, which they dig under until the body falls into the hole. It then is buried and becomes the food source of the larvae after the eggs have been deposited on the corpse. According to Borror, Triplehorn and Johnson in their book An Introduction to the Study of Insects, "These beetles are remarkably strong. A pair may move an animal as large as a rat several feet to get it to a suitable spot for burying." Adults and grubs both feed on carrion. Thank you for sending the images.

Thank you!  That was very fast.  Seems to be a very useful insect.

08/01/2005) We Stand Corrected
Nicrophorus picture On the first beetle page there is a picture dated 9/11/2003 of a Nicrophorus.  You have identified it as Nicrophorus americana. N. americana has a reddish-orange pronotum (the upper part of the body between the head and the elytra.  The specimen would also be small for americana if the coin in the upper left hand corner is a nickle (americana would be about twice this size). Brett Ratcliffe at the University of Nebraska might be able to tell you what species of Nicrophorus this is.
Charles Wright
Frankfort, KY

(9/8/2003)
Can you tell me what it is. It landed on an oak tree in luna new mexico.

Dear Paul,
It is a type of Long Horned Borer Beetle, Family Cerambycidae, possibly of the genus Monochamus, which are known as Sawyer Beetles. They are often mottled grey in color and have bodies over an inch in length. The antennae of the males are more than twice the body length. The larvae feed on evergreens, tunneling into the wood, usually on freshly cut logs, but they also attack living trees. You sent an awesome photo. I will try to identify your exact species.

daniel:  thanks for the info on the borer!!! also, dana will be happy to hear
that his picture is Awesome!!!   it was an evergreen forest so there was plenty to eat!!!  i love your email name and it is very appropriate!!!
thanks a bunch!!!!.................paul

(9/5/2003) Rove Beetle and a Happy Ending!
Hi, I'm new to your site.  Very cool!!
I have a huge "Bug-Phobia", I hate all types of bugs.  Yet, I am extremely fascinated with them.  I am deathly afraid of spiders and wasps, but given a situation where I feel "safe" I can't help but sit and stare at the creatures. (Avert your eyes) The only bug that I hate enough to actually kill without provocation is the Black Widow spider, I was bitten by one when I was 14 and I haven't recovered from the fear of seeing a dark bruise travel up my thigh and not being able to seek medical help.
Anyways, I found a huge ant looking beetle type thing crawling on my carpet, and rather than immediately squish it and move on, I decided to find out what it was.  I stumbled across your site and quickly ID'd it as a Rove Beetle.  After reading all about them, I promptly returned him to the garden, where my wife had been working earlier.  Hopefully this will make up for some of my anti-bug karma.
Thanks,
Gabe Pari
Ontario, California

Dear Gabe,
I'm happy our site managed to keep one more Devil's Coach Horse alive in the world. We at the WTB offices don't kill Black Widows. We let them spin their webs and enjoy watching them. They don't wander much, so we don't fear them crawling into our beds, and we don't leave our shoes where they can crawl inside. They are shy spiders and are not aggressive, and only bite when threatened. We have also learned to use gloves when rooting through the firewood pile and never put our hands under the water heater until we look first.

Dear Teresa,
You have taken a beautiful photograph of a male Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus. We have only received photos of dead ones in the past which can be viewed on our beetle page. The female does not have horns. Sometimes they are called Unicorn Beetles or Rhinoceros Beetles depending upon the author, but our latest sources credit the common name to be Hercules, though the scientific name remains the same. A larger species is found in the West, Dynastes granti. Adults are reported to feed off the sap of trees , especially from the Ash family, and to eat figs, while the grubs eat leaf litter and rotten wood. Some great photos of mating couples of D. granti can be found on this site:
http://beetlegate.hyperlink.cz/beetles-sides/Dynastes_granti.htm
These are reportedly the most massive beetles in North America, though some Stag Beetles may be in contention for the record. Here is a photo of Dynastes tityus on a postage stamp issued in the U.S. in 1999.

Thank you so much for your response.  My husband ended up moving him the next day to a vacant field across the road because he found him on the ground in front of my barn and was afraid my horses would step on him and crush him. I hope he has a very long and productive life. I have never in my life seen a Beetle quite like him.
Thanks again
Teresa
I think you forgot to include the web address. My husband would really like
to see the picture of the postage stamp. Thanks again.
Teresa

http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/browse_content/
pressRelease.jsp?CURSOR=116&BV_UseBVCookie=yes>


Here is the entire sheet.

(8/13/2003) Dear bug man,
I was wondering if you could help me out and identify this bug. It fell out of a tree, landed on my boss's face and stung him. I have attached a photo of the offender. The bug is about 1⁄4 of an inch in length. It is black with an orange U on its back; it has six legs and a very small head. Its abdomen is slightly flattened. Also, it has some very spikey hairs on its back- not very long but they remind me of the hairs on a caterpillar. Any help would be appreciated
Thanks,
Amanda

Dear Amanda,
You are probably going to find this hard to believe, but that was a young ladybug that landed on your boss' face. While it is doubtful that it mistook your boss for an aphid, you must remember that both adult and larval forms of ladybugs are voracious hunters, and perhaps your specimen was just hungry. They don't sting, but they could bite.

Dear Debbie,
The  COTTONWOOD BORER, Plectrodera scalator, is a large black and white beetle that is most likely your culprit.  It is a member of the long horned borer family.  The grubs bore into the trees and can cause considerable damage.  Here is one photo I downloaded from the web.

Dear Sean,
There is a North American Rhinoceros Beetle, Dynastes tityus, which is normally a yellowish green color with maroon spots, but this website:
http://members.aol.com/askdrjay/dynast2.htm
indicates  "  Occasionally, chestnut-colored specimens are encountered, and I have reason to believe that this is a result of humidity causing a color change."  This is probably our largest North American Beetle.

Sugar Maple Borer
(8/11/2003) Maple tree Motel!
Good morning Bug Man,   I send this message from almost sunny Ontario, Canada.  Yesterday I was cutting the grass and noticed that a small section of the bark on a recently planted Sugar Maple was flaking off.  I stopped for a closer examination.  The tree was planted last year and has been doing very well with the moisture and sun of this summer.  The affected area was about two inches long by one inch wide.  The bark flaked off easily to reveal a small hole at the top with lots of saw dust packed around the void between the bark and the wood fiber.  I thought I was dealing with Powder Post beetles but the hole was much larger than those produce.  I carefully cut away the wood below the hole to reveal a half inch long whitish worm with a black spotted head.  I wish I could send you a photo of the little creature but I do not have a digital camera.  It is floating around in alcohol in front of me and looks a little yellow due to the fact that I placed him in a not so well rinsed Saffron spice bottle!  This insect larvae seems to be the only one of its kind on the tree as well as all others I checked.  The tree is only about 2 inches in Diameter so it surprised me that something would bore into it.  What do you think it is and should I be worried about the trees?  Thanks

The Sugar Maple Borer, Glycobius speciosus, is a long horned borer that will bore into sugar maple trees and can cause considerable damage. You found the grub which does the damage. Adults are beetles.

The adult borer is an attractive black and yellow beetle about 25 mm long (cover). A prominent "W" design appears on the wing covers. Although it resembles the much more common locust borer, the sugar maple borer can be distinguished by its yellow legs and two black dots near the end of the wing covers (the locust borer has reddish-brown legs and no dots). Eggs are white and about 3 mm long. Larvae are robust and dirty white and have brownish chewing mouthparts. They are nearly 50 mm long when fully grown. Pupae develop deep within the wood and are seldom seen. Here is a site with more information:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_mapleborer/mapleborer.htm

8/11/2003) Green June Beetles
I live in near central Oklahoma near the SW side of OKC. We have lateral lines (picture, if you will, 4 human fingers) that extend out of our septic tank. These lateral lines disseminate throughout the ground. Which means we have four long lines of well fertilized grass. This month, those lines were extremely tall and thick. In them and flying over them were these humongous flying critters. They resembled the size of a bumblebee. They became very active when I came near the lines with the riding lawnmower. Because I couldn't get close enough to identify them (I'm allergic to bees), I can give you a general description:
They are very "heavy" looking. The backs of them sort of had a darkblack/green sheen to them and the bottom sort of had the appearance of black and yellow although I cannot confirm this. I thought maybe they were bumblebees but I had not ever seen the dark green on a bumblebee before. Of course, I've only seen one bumblebee in my entire life.
There were at one time, over a hundred of these buggers flying lazily around over the grass. They concentrated in that area only. The rest of the yard was free from these insects. I didn't know if they had built themselves a home in the grass or they were attracted to them. They did become a little more aggressive in their flying when I came near them.
However, once the tall grass was mowed down, they were gone. Have any idea what they might be?
April Harrington

Dear April,
Green June Beetles are large and green with yellow undersides. They are known to be extremely plentiful at times, especially where there is horse manure present. I would guess that your septic tank attracted them, and the eggs were laid in the rich soil. When they emerged, they did so in vast numbers. They are harmless, though somewhat frightening.

(8/9/2003) Big Green Bug (?)
We've just seen an unusual bug clinging for dear life on the side of my front steps.  It is large, with a yellowish green body and legs (six of them), two long antennae, raised back and a flat head and about 2" long and 1" wide.  Can you tell me what this might be?  It didn't move while we were looking at it or taking pictures of it.  Thank you.
DJ

Dear DJ,
The area of the country in which you live will make a difference for my identification. In the Western desert areas of Arizona and California, the Green Fruit Beetle, Cotinus mutabilis, also known as the Fig Eater Beetle, is common in August. It is a large scarab and does not have long antennae. They eat overly ripe fruit, especially peaches and figs, and cactus fruit. Adults buzz loudly while flying. Green June Beetles, Cotinus nitida, are found in the Eastern portion of the country, and they are also large scarabs without long antennae. Here is a photo of the Green Fruit Beetle. We would love to see your photo which make identification infinitely easier.

This thing looks like a scorpion

(8/6/2003) Hi Mate,
I wonder if you can help me out?   Recently we have had a lot of visits from these rather strange looking beetles,   there about 1.5 inches long x 1cm wide, black, hard  and quite aggressive.
They have a nasty set of nippers on their heads and when disturbed they arch their backs (like a scorpion) and you can see white goo on the end of their tails. Ive a young son who is (like all boys) fascinated with bugs critters and basically anything that moves, and Im a bit concerned that these things could give a nasty bite/sting as they look rather scary.  When he first spotted one (I being a hero) grabbed a small stick to give it some prodding for myself, and this thing actually went for the stick, holding on and what looked like stinging with its tail.   The tail has no barb as a normal scorpion but is tapered to a flat end. Any ideas what they are, and more importantly are they dangerous. Many thanks for your time and knowledge.
Brian

Dear Brian,
I'm guessing by your greeting that you are writing from Down Under, and location is always an issue with insect identification.  It sounds like a Devil's Coach Horse, Staphylinus olens, a type of Rove Beetle originally native to Europe, but it has spread to other parts of the world.  It is a fierce garden hunter, and is very fond of eating snails and slugs, but it is harmless to people.  It is not poisonous and though it aggressively defends itself with both the posture you describe and a noxious odor with gives it its scientific name which means "stinking", you need not fear for your son's safety.

Cheers for that ive had a look and thats the little bugger.
Thanks for your time,
Brian
Your half right to the location,  I am in Newcastle but in the UK

(7/27/2003)
Found this guy flying in my basement area.  Makes a loud noise when flying. Any idea what this is?  Actual size about 2" in length. Thanks,
Aaron
Dear Aaron,
It is a Ten Lined June Beetle, Polyphylla decemlineata, members of the Scarab Beetle family.   The grubs are pests on peach trees, devouring the roots.  The adults eat pine needles.  They are attracted to lights at night, probably explaining the presence in your basement.  They sometimes make loud squeeking noises when handled.

Eucalyptus Tree Borer (7/24/2003)
I found this beetle dead at Angel's Gate art center in the Point Fermin Area of San Pedro, Calif.  Could you please help me identify it.   Latin name, common name and something about its life style.  This is the first time I have seen this beetle.  Thank you.
Yvetta

Dear Yvetta,
Thanks for sending in the photo.  Your specimen is a Eucalyptus Long Horned Borer, Phoracantha semipunctata.  They were probably introduced to California in 1982 near El Toro, and it has steadily moved throughout Southern California.  The grubs bore into Eucalyptus trees, often weakening them.  They are considered a pest.

Thank you so much.  It was a new one to me.  I will be on the lookout.   We will put it in the collection.  
Thanks.  
Yvetta

Ed. Note: We just received this information:
(08/09/2005) identificationsHello - I was recently shown your site, and it is excellent.  My specialization is longhorned beetles, and in cruising around I notice a number of incomplete or uncertain IDs for this family.  I don't know if you are interested in receiving this sort of input, but if you are, I offer the following additions to your identifications.
The eucalyptus borer in this photo (and also shown elsewhere on one of the other pages of your site) is Phoracantha recurva, nor P. semipunctata.  Both species now have become well-established in California. Cheers.
Frank Hovore

---

(8/7/2003)Hi bug man!  There has been a visitor on our screen at night that I think may be a beetle. It has 6 legs, very long antennae, a triangle shaped head, dark hard back, furry chest underneath, flies, and is 2 inches long without the antennae.  It does not have the "furry" legs that cockroaches appear to have.  It also made hissing noises.  I've been trying to identify it online, without success.  Any ideas?  Is it dangerous?  Thank you for your help!
Jennifer
California
Dear Jennifer,
It might be a California Prionus, a large beetle often attracted to lights at night.  Not dangerous.  Here is a photo sent in by a reader. Ranger D (see below) has also reported sounds.

Thank you!!!

---

Hello:  What's this beetle??!!  It was found in western Colorado near Grand
Junction.  It's about 45 mm long, dark brown, long antenna, see
pictures.....  Thank you!

They are beautiful photographs of a California Prionus. See following letter for more details.

---

Mr. Bugman,
I work at Colorado River State Park. This cute little guy was found over here last evening. We are currently lacking a decent insect field guide, and were hoping that you could help us out.  He's obviously from Order Coleoptera, and makes a distinct screaming noise when threatened.  
Thank you much,
Ranger DeBerard

Dear Ranger,
You have a California Prionus beetle, Prionus californicus, a member of the borer beetl group.  They are among the largest beetles in the Western US.  Though I couldn't find any information on their noise making habits, I do know for a fact that other borers, including the red and black Milkweed Borer, Tetraopes tetraophthalmus, are capable of squeeking when handled.  Here is some information I downloaded from another site: Range: California: coastal and inland valleys, foothills, and mountains to middle elevations. > Alaska, south to Baja California, and east, into the Rocky Mountains. Hosts: Prevalent in oak, madrone, poplar and apple; also attacks cherry, walnut, chestnut, willow, serviceberry, eucalyptus, pear, almond, peach, plum, quince, alder, hop, some conifers, brambles and certain shrubs. Biology: Adults fly June to September; females may lay up to 600 eggs; lifecycle takes 3-5 years. Importance: Larvae bore into bark at plant bases, and penetrate roots; leaves yellow, then defoliate; bark on larger branches dries and cracks. Plants often die the following season. Serious pest of apples in New Mexico.

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I am freaked out in Mass too !!!!!!
(8/5/2003)
Thank God for your site!  We just finished our basement and the other morning my  2 1/2 year old daughter came running up the basement stairs shouting about a BIG bug.  I thought it was going to be an ant, but it was a Stag Beetle even larger than the one in the photo sent to you by Lynn in Massachusetts.  Ours was nearly three inches long and it was dark brown.   I am writing because of your comment about the beetle enjoying rotting wood.  Do you think this means I have rotting wood in my house or did this really scary creature get lost?
Much appreciated!
Kim

Dear Kim,
It could be rotting wood, in which case you should think of the Stag Beetle as an early alert.  It is also
reputed that the beetles, which can fly, are attracted to lights, in which case your visit could be benign.

---

(07/21/03) Hi Bugman,
I read through your website and still am not able to find what this creature is!!! I spent last night surfing the web, trying to find out more information, but still no luck. You're my last resort, Bugman! My husband and I came home to find 2 of these on our garage floor. It's by far the largest bug I've ever seen! It measures about 1.5 inches long (see picture). I thought it was some sort of beetle or cockroach, but apparently not. My friend did more research and thought it was the (rare?) Stag Beetle. But it doesn't match the description. We live in Massachusetts. I'm not sure how common this bug is, or if it's even harmful at all. I know you're busy right now, what with summer and all, but I'd appreciate any help you can give us! Great website, by the way!
Lynn
Freaked out in Massachusetts.

Dear Freaked Out,
It is a Stag Beetle. I know there are reddish varieties, but I have only seen black ones. Perhaps the red beetles you found are a subspecies of Pseudoleucanus capreolus. The photos are beautiful. They are not harmful, though can deliver a mild pinch with those formidable jaws on the male beetle. The grubs eat rotting wood. One of the few items in our gift shop right now is a stag beetle t-shirt.

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(07/21/03) The other day i saw this bug ,it was one that no one there ever saw before.It was a bettle or bug not sure.About 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. It had shell back with wings it look like underneath.It was a shiny blue with a orange strip across its back. It also had two antannas which look like small cone shapes pieces,one fitting into one another making up the antannas.It would be great if you could tell me what it is or where to find more on this bug.And a picture would be great to see if we will talking about the same bug.
Thanks, Kerwin
Dear Kerwin,
It sounds just like an Elder Borer. The elder borer, Desmocerus palliatus, is a striking,
bluish-purple beetle with a yellow band across the front part of its wing covers. Its head is
quite small compared to the body, having antennae which are 1/2-2/3 of the total body length
(2 cm or larger). These beetles infest all types of elder, Sambucus spp., causing galls at the
base of the stem, tunnelling in and weakening of the canes, or outright death of the plants.
See if this image looks correct.

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(7/19/2003)
I have photos if necessary. It's not an earwig, but approximately that size. This bug is solid black, no wings, doesn't reduce size really at the abdomen and what not. Small legs, nothing like a cricket. Not like a beetle, nothing like a cockroach. We've found a few of these crawling across the floors lately, and it freaks out my wife hehe. Any ideas? Would the photos help?
David

Dear David,
Photos always help.  Might be a rove beetle.  There is a species known as the Devil's Coach Horse, Staphylinus olens, that is solid black.  It is a true beetle, though is rather atypical appearing.  They are European imports, and eat snails and slugs, hence are advantageous to the gardener.  Both adults and grubs are adept hunters. 

Amazing. I have searched the web for a few days, identify a bug sites, all kinds of crazy stuff. Nothing. No where. I email you and you instantly know what it is. I attached the pictures of the one specimin I photographed closely. I googled up a bunch of photos. But the photos I have seen of live ones and what not, if there are no very close relatives, that is it.
You said they are European imports. So they are already across the United States? They are in Salt Lake City anyway. A little more reading on them, they say they raise up like a scorpion when scared, release a stinky smell from their abdomen (true) does not sting but can give a painful bite. We are not gardeners, we live in brand new apartments, and we are finding them in our house. Should something be done? Or should we just scoop them up and let them outside? Thanks again on identifying it, with such a vague description really. Best site :-)
google.com search identify a font.
The site, identifies fonts, asks one question at a time, and identifies the font, to 2 or three fonts out of like 10,000 fonts. A bug site like that, would be amazing. I'm not much of a bug expert, but if you wanted any design help for such a site, let me know.

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(7/18/2003) Beetle in Georgia
My wife came across a dead beetle of some sort.  It is light green in color with mottled black spots on the wings.  It is about 2" long and has pincers that open top to bottom, not side to side. I have attached a picture for your review. Thanks for any help you can give us in this identification.
Dave B.
Columbus, Ga

Dear Dave,
I'm sure I answered your wife's letter, though now can't seem to find any record of it.  She sent three photos of different views.  It is a Unicorn Beetle, Dynastes tityus, a member of the scarab family prized by collectors.  They are harmless.

Daniel,
Thanks for the quick response!  Once you had been able to identify it, I was able to find additional pictures online. As an aside,  my wife hasn't sent any pictures in...so there are a couple of us who recently came across a beautiful specimen.
Thanks again!
Dave

We at What's That Bug appologize to Dave and Lori because we confused their photograph with the following photograph which arrived in our offices two days before. They are remarkably similar.

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(7/16/2003)Hello,  
I was wondering if you could tell me what this thing was.  It is very different.   However I found it dead, so I decided to take pics,  It looks mean. What is it's purpose.  I have never seen anything like this.  We are in the Limestone area, of Texas.  Thanks ever so much.        
Gary

Hi Gary, It is a male Unicorn Beetle, Dynastes tityus, a member of the scarab family prized by collectors.  The males have three horns, not one, so Unicorn Beetle is something of a misnomer.  The grubs are found in rotting wood.  It is a Southern insect.

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SUBJECT:   Re: Yellow and Black

(7/13/2003)
Hi....I have for years seen a very strange looking large bug in my yard in California but have not seen it anywhere else in the US. It is roughly 1.5-22 long, yellow with black stripes, super shiny, 3 segments, and the tentacles or arms look so fat it almost looks like it has baby arms.  It is by far the most disgusting bug I1ve ever seen.
What is it?
Best Regards,
Kayce

Dear Kayce,
If you hadn't said you lived in California, I would have immediately thought of the Locust Borer, a large beetle that fits your description.  I did a web search, and have noticed that the range is expanding.  Here in Los Angeles, we do have Black Locust Trees, so it is conceivable that the range of the Locust Borer now includes California.  Here is additional information as well as a photo.  Please let us know if the range of the Locust Borer now includes California. The locust borer, Megacyllene robiniae (Forst.), is a native insect. Its original range probably coincided with that of its host tree, the black locust, which once grew only along the Allegheny Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia and in the Ozark Mountain region. Black locust grows readily on poor sites and is used extensively in land-reclamation plantings. Its widespread use to reclaim land damaged by farming and strip mining, its use as a shade tree, and its use in reforestation have dispersed the borer with its host tree over most of the United States. The borer is now found from eastern Canada south to the Gulf States and west to Washington, Colorado, and Arizona. The borer attacks only black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and its cultivars (horticulturally derived varieties in the genus Robinia); the honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L.) is not affected.

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(7/12/03)
Ok ,
I need help....  Bad. I just had both of my hips replaced the last one in Feb. I was out walking in my yard, I live out in the Country in Missouri, near Kansas City. I was swarmed by what I thought at the time was Bees, flying around me. I did my best to try and run, but not good at that as of yet.I just knew I was doomed... Ok, I didn't get stung. A guy was at my home to work on something and I asked him to go out and see what there were,....BEETLES.... LOTS of Beetles. Close in size to June bugs, not as tall or thick, but length wise close. When flying, I thought they looked like bees, yellow jackets or something. Because they have yellow showing when in flight. When captured...They are a Green Metallic,all across the back,but tipped in yellow, and at the point if you can call it that, of the bottom, they are yellow too. Alsothe under side is yellow around the base of the legs, than metallic green down the leg. (I hate Bugs)Really bad.... Now I have thousands of these beetles, Someone said Japanese Beetles, but in photos,they are shaped somewhat different and are a brownish on the back, these have no red, or brown... Please Help me.... Susan N. Photography Liberty, Missouri

Dear Susan,
I think you have been terrorized by GREEN JUNE BEETLES, Cotinus nitida. Here is some information as well as a drawing I discovered on two websites:

DESCRIPTION
Adult -- The beetle is 15 to 22 mm long with dull, velvety green wings. Its head, legs, and underside are shiny green, and its sides are brownish-yellow. Joe Boggs reported that GREEN JUNE BEETLES, Cotinus nitida, are terrorizing backyard gardeners, sunbathers, small pets, etc., as they buzz lawns in southern Ohio. These big, metallic green beetles tend to emerge en masse. Their large size, coupled with an audible "buzzing" sound and low level flight plan (cruising at about 2 to 3 feet) may induce mild panic in those individuals unfamiliar with this insect. Adults feed on tree leaves as a skeletonizer. Fortunately, they rarely cause significant plant injury. Their primary goal is to locate turf with high levels of organic matter (e.g. thatch) in which to lay eggs. Lawns covered with partially composted manures have also been found to be highly attractive to the adults and they may burrow into cool compost piles, under decomposing manure and into decayed mulch. It has been speculated that this attraction to decomposing organic matter explains why adults tend to show-up in large numbers on certain lawns while ignoring surrounding turf. Unlike other Scarab beetle larvae such as Japanese beetle grubs, green June beetle grubs burrow 10 to 12 inches into the soil and they remain closely associated with these burrows. The grubs do venture out at night, especially after heavy rains, to feed on thatch and other organic matter and they occasionally find their way onto driveways, sidewalks and into swimming pools. Despite their large size, green June beetle larvae seldom cause injury to turf equal to that caused by Japanese beetles or masked chafers.

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(6/9/2003)Hi,
I live in a small town in Norfolk in the UK. I wonder if you would be able to give me any information on a bug that we only seem to get in our area. We believe the bug is called either a July Bug or a Billy Witch. It's a beetle of about an inch in length with a hard outer shell but the also fly and try to get tangled in anything they can. Is there anything else you could tell me about this bug so I can prove
to my neighbour they exist.
Many thanks.
Neil

I'm guessing that our May Beetles, also called June Bugs, are what you are calling a July Bug, since it fits your description. It is a type of scarab beetle that is attracted to lights at night. I have never heard the name Billy Witch before, but it is a good one.

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(5/19/03)Hello,
Last summer bore beetles wiped out half the pines in my yard. (1 acre.).Since the Florida drought is over and steady rains are back, and the pines are not as stressed as last year, will my remaining loblolly pines fight off the bore beetles naturally or do I have to spray with something. And if I spray is it true the beetles are only on the trunk of the tree. Last but not least, what do I spray with? Thanks from Central Florida, Roger

Like many living forms, insects reach a peak population, do major damage, and then suddenly die back to a small population which takes seasons to grow large again. The stress on the trees due to the drought combined with the population explosion of the beetles contributed to the tree loss. That population was increasing, doing hidden damage for years. The best control is to rid the area of tainted wood from the dead trees which is harboring the pest. Check with local exterminators regarding a pesticide control.

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(7/6/2003)My wife found this beetle today.
 
 
It was quite large, with the body around 2” long (not counting the antennae).
Thanks!
Richard
Dear Richard,
It is a beautiful photo of a  COTTONWOOD BORER, Plectrodera scalator.

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(5/28/2003) interesting looking beetle
I was outside doing a little star gazing one night and when I went to look through my telescope I found this little guy just sitting on my eye piece. I've done a little investigation and I think maybe it's an Asian Longhorned Beetle? Any idea what it could be? It was probably 1" long and it had huge antennae.
Thanks a bunch.
Chris

Dear Chris,
It looks more like a Banded Alder Borer (Rosalia funebris) to me. Borers are beetles characterized by extremely long antennae and the Banded Alder Borer has striped antennae like your photo.  The larvae feed on wood, boring into the host plants.  The Eucalyptus Long Horned Borer is an introduced pest in California which is reeking havoc on another Australian import, the eucalyptus tree.

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I live in Southern California and encountered the most hideous insect I have ever seen.
Here's a description:
Black with white covering entire body.  
Length: 2-3"
Antennae: very long 2"minimum
It resembled a skeleton.
Had 4-6 legs.
Body seemed very hard.
Please advise
—Peter DiVincenzo

Dear Peter,
    My original guess would have been a Eucalyptus Tree Borer (Phoracantha semipunctata) but the black and white coloring suggests a relative, the Banded Alder Borer (Rosalia funebris) instead.  This is a very attractive beetle with black and white striped antennae which are longer than the body. It feeds on alder, ash and other hardwood trees, occasionally boring into the wood of laurel, live oak and eucalyptus as well.  Adults are sometimes attracted to the fumes of fresh paint.

Try these sites for a photo and more information.
http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/97/6.19.97/
beetle.html
http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle/bandedalderborer.html

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(5/24/2003) Colorado Potato Beetle
Dear Bugman,
I have been gardening or helping to tend to the garden since I was just a wee fella.Most of my  life  was spent gardening in Ohio.Shorter growing season,not a whole lot of bugs.Cold winters killed alot of the buggers I guess.
we move to Georgia about four years ago.whole new ballgame you might say.Since moving here I have discovered at least forty new insects I never knew.Some of these things can eat entire plants in a night.Well maybe not that bad but close.
I have searched high and low to figure the latest one out.You may be my last hope.So far they have wiped out my potatoes and have since migrated to the tomatos.They are less than a quarter inch in length, soft fat bodies,red except for the head and underbelly,looks like about six or eight legs,black spots.The head is much smaller than the body.Oh and they're really juicy when you pick them off.
I wish I knew how to send a picture on this stupid thing but I don't.Any help or pictures for me to look at would be appreciated.
Thanks Doc.
Frank Kovach

Dear Frank,
You have Colorado Potato Beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. The grubs are as you describe and the adults are striped black and yellow. Both adults and grubs feed on potatoes and related plants including tomatoes. This is an example about how a relatively unimportant insect can change its role as the environment changes. this beetle was once native to the Rockies, living on nightshade and other wild members of the potato family Solanacea. When settlers began togrow potatoes, the new food gave the beetles a fresh start. they prospered and spread, till they now exist in practically all of the 48 continental states. Here are some photos and more information can be found on this site:
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/veg/leaf/potato_beetles.htm

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(5/19/03)Hello,
Last summer bore beetles wiped out half the pines in my yard. (1 acre.).Since the Florida drought is over and steady rains are back, and the pines are not as stressed as last year, will my remaining loblolly pines fight off the bore beetles naturally or do I have to spray with something. And if I spray is it true the beetles are only on the trunk of the tree. Last but not least, what do I spray with? Thanks from Central Florida, Roger

Like many living forms, insects reach a peak population, do major damage, and then suddenly die back to a small population which takes seasons to grow large again. The stress on the trees due to the drought combined with the population explosion of the beetles contributed to the tree loss. That population was increasing, doing hidden damage for years. The best control is to rid the area of tainted wood from the dead trees which is harboring the pest. Check with local exterminators regarding a pesticide control.

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(5/16/03)Hi. Recently my son found this beautiful bug near our house in Glendale, AZ. I'm attaching a picture.  It has a bright red head, and it's back is yellow with a black pattern dividing it into 4 parts. It's the first and only time we've seen one.
Any idea?
Thanks--
Wes

Dear Wes,
I contacted our sources at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, and he provided the following information.

Thanks for sending the beetle photo. It is in the Blister Beetle family: Meloidae. You can probably look it up on the internet...try under the genus name Lytta. Some of these beetles exude a toxic liquid which can cause blisters on the skin. I'm not sure this one does that.
 Hope this helps you!
Take care.  Brian Harris
 Entomology Section
 Natural History Museum LA Co.

A web search did not turn up a more exact identification, but there is this site which has a photo of a close relative Lytta magister http://www.solpugid.com/gallery/Gallery3.htm which also has a red head and legs. I do have some interesting background information on the genus however.  A blue-green colored European relative Lytta vesicatoria, is known by the common name Spanish fly:  Perhaps the most famous `aphrodisiac' of folk lore is `Spanish Fly' made from the dried beetle _Cantharis_ (Lytta) _vesicatoria_, which is widely found in areas of southern Europe. The active ingredient of the prepared insect is cantharidin, and the powdered product contains around 0.6 percent of the substance. Sometimes a tincture of cantharidin is made, and the fatal dose is usually reckoned at 1.5 to 3 grams of the powder, or about 200 millilitres of the tincture. I have not given up entirely on the identification.  I will be making a trip to the insect museum in Riverside in the near future. Thanks again for the awesome photo which is currently on my desktop at work.
Have a great day.
Daniel

Editor's Note: Continued research has identified this little beauty as a member of the Blister Beetle Family known as Soldier Beetles, Tegrodera erosa Lec. or Tegrodera latecincta Horn. "They are 17-30 mm. long; the head red; the prothorax dusky red; the antennae, legs, and remainder of the body shining black; and the elytra golden yellow, reticulated, and with black margins, a black median belt, and black apices. In the former specioes the black markings of the elytra are very obscure, while on the latter they are strongly pronounced. The beetles ordinarily feed upon the native sage brush, artemisia, and other plants, but frequently invade alfalfa fields and do much damage." according to Essig in Insects and Mites of Western North America.

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We have Hundreds maybe Thousands on the ground and
all over our house.  Please help us as my 6 and 4 year olds are scared and me too!
aceman

We were unable to anwer this reader who should be somewhat afraid of Blister Beetles which can cause a skin reaction.

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Hi,
I found a beetle while hiking the woods in Plymouth Massachusetts. It looks like a big japanese beetle with what looks like a shield or hood behind its head, and has a horn like a rhino. It's about 3/4 long. It was found near scrub oaks and fields. It's dead probably from the cold. Any idea what it might be?
Thanks
Ken

Dear Ken,
     You made a good call all around.  Not only does your beetle look like a rhinoceros, it is named for one. The rhinoceros beetle, Xyloryctes jamaicensis, and its relatives the ox beetle and the unicorn beetle, are all horned members of the scarab beetle family which includes dung beetles, june beetles and japanese beetles. Check out this website for more information: http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/fieldguide

Dear Mr. Bug Man,
      These live in my compost pile. They seem to be good for the decomposition, because they eat the contents of the pile and excrete them in a much-broken-down-form. But: what the hell? Big as my pinkie. Jerusalem Cricket?
Thanks,
Sean Dungan

Dear Sean,
     Despite the suspiciously similar appearance to the killer "graboids" from the movie Tremors, your grub is just a grub, in this case the larval form of the Green Fruit Beetle (Cotinus mutabilis). Any observant insect watcher in Southern California, Arizona or Mexico has surely seen these enormous metalic green scarabs which take flight in August and September, buzzing noisily and circling clumsily in their search for fruit, namely figs, peaches, apricots, nectarines, grapes and cactus fruit which is the wild host plant. Originally native to Arizona and New Mexico, the beetle has moved west and is now relatively common in the Los Angeles Basin. Eggs are laid in compost piles, and the grubs, which can reach 2 inches in length, are sometimes called "crawly-backs" because of their method of locomotion, which involves undulating the body and pushing against the substratum with short stout bristles on the back of the thorax. The grubs feed on decaying vegetation, and are beneficial to the compost pile.

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(8/5/2002) Watermelon Bug
Hello Mr. Bug Guy!
Never seen anything like it before and we have no idea how it got into the house and onto the second floor landing. That's as far from any open window as it gets in our place and not close to the ground, either. (Although we do have two cats and a kitten.) It was casually walking, slowly, along the carpet. Actually, it looked kinda sick. It wasn't moving particularly fast or anything. We scooped it into a jar and within hours, there was barely a flicker of movement left. (Still Flickering, though, as I write this.) It's not quite 3 cm from nose to tail. It's coloring was much like a watermelon, the kind with a lot of contrast between the stripes. It had these two, strange paddles out front, looking a lot like shoehorns. Any idea what this bug might be? Is it local or some kind of import? I'm in San Jose, CA, at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay.
Thanks!
John

While cleaning out the old email account, we discovered these amazing photos sent in by John of a Ten Lined June Beetle, Polyphylla decemlineata. They are native and the adults eat pine needles while the grubs are considered pests of peach trees.