Black / Orange Beetle with large orange tail
July 8, 2010
Saw this large Black and orange tailed beetle in my garden in upstate NY, near the capital. One of the biggest bugs I am seen around this area. Can you help identify it?
Sincerely Ryan
Upstate NY
Broad Necked Root Borer
Hi Ryan,
This is a female Broad Necked Root Borer, Prionus laticollis, a species that we have posted several images of in the past few days. The orange tail that you describe is her ovipositor and she uses it to bury her eggs where the hatchling larvae have access to roots, their food source.
What’s this sudden swarm of beetles in my yard?
July 9, 2010
It’s the second week of July, there have been lots of hot, hazy days, and little rain lately.
This is the first, though, for the swarm of large, inch-long flying beetles invading my yard. They were flying everywhere, bumping into the siding of the front porch with audible thumps, congregating inches above the dried grass of the lawn, and buzzing around the invasive sumac tree at the back of my property. They rarely landed anywhere that I could see, but I managed to catch one on the ground for a few seconds and was lucky enough to get a reasonable shot (attached). It’s too early for cicadas, but I have never seen a beetle this large, certainly not in these kind of numbers.
The local bird population is having a buffet this afternoon. Starlings, wrens, crows, all crowding the area trying to catch them.
The kids and I would love to know what they are, as this is definitely a first.
S. Brown, of Annville.
South central Pennsylvania (Susquehanna Valley)
Green June Beetle
Dear S. Brown,
You have submitted a photo of a Green June Beetle, Cotinis nitida. The phenomenon you describe is explained on BugGuide: “The adults can often be seen in numbers flying just inches over turf.“
¶ Posted 09 July 2010 § ‡ ° Black Beetle found in Los Angeles
July 8, 2010
My daughter and I saw this little guy crawling along in Descanso Gardens. As soon as we were close he stood still and we stared at him for a good long while. Once we moved on he happily kept on walking. He was not smooth and appeared to have little ridges along his back. He was not shiny but a dull black.
However you want 
Los Angeles, CA
Diabolical Ironclad Beetle
Your beetle is a Diabolical Ironclad Beetle, Phloeodes diabolicus, and you can find additional information on BugGuide. BugGuide indicates it is found in California in “Woodlands, Found under loose bark of oak, cottonwood.”
¶ Posted 09 July 2010 § ‡ ° Haldeman’s Iron Clad Beetle Photos
July 8, 2010
Haldeman’s Iron Clad Beetle Photos
Your letter to the bugman Hi would you like some good photos of a Haldeman’s iron clad beetle? I took the photos, but I can’t take credit for the ID or information.
Haldeman's Ironclad Beetle
Scott Fleenor at the Univ. Texas at Austin was kind enough to identify it. Here is his reply unedited:
“Keith,
This unlikely critter is known as Haldeman’s ironclad beetle (Zopherus haldemani). It’s knobbly, Rorschache-print pattern and constricted body form is distinctive. It’s extremely well armored and will turn an insect pin – entomologists are said to have drilled holes through the elytra in order to pin and mount them! The wing covers are sutured shut and do not open, and I believe the wings are vestigial. The adults and larvae live on fungi in decaying oak trees. Traditionally placed in the large family of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae), they have recently been placed in a family of their own – the Zopheridae. This beetle graces the seal/emblem of the Southwestern Entomological Society, which publishes the quarterly journal The Southwestern Entomologist.
Thanks for the nice pic’s!
- Scott.”
Please properly cite him for the information.
Keith Minor
Austin, Texas
Haldeman's Ironclad Beetle
Hi Keith,
Thanks for sending us your awesome images of Haldeman’s Ironclad Beetle. The view of the underside is so richly detailed.
Haldeman's Ironclad Beetle
¶ Posted 09 July 2010 § ‡ ° Cottonwood Borer
July 7, 2010
I found this bug in my back yard and looked it up on your website. Using your recourses, I think I have correctly identified this insect but I think that my photos depict this insect better than the one demonstrated on your website.
If you agree, you’re more than welcome to use them.
George Gonzales
North Texas, Euless
Cottonwood Borer
Hi George,
Your identification of the Cottonwood Borer, Plectrodera scalator, is correct. We are not certain which of the many photographs posted to our website you are comparing your images to, but the submissions from our readership run the gamut from totally blurry to finely focused and of high resolution. Since the beginning of our site migration last year about this time, we have offered a new feature of being able to enlarge the images posted to our site to a maximum of 800×550 ppi, and all previous images are much smaller files.
Cottonwood Borer
large black &white striped bug with thick antena
July 8, 2010
i spoted this bug crawling on a wall in by back yard. It scared the heck out of me .i had never seen anything like it before. any idea what it is?
christina
southern california
Banded Alder Borer
Hi Christina,
This Banded Alder Borer or California Laurel Borer, Rosalia funebris, is a native insect that is sometimes attracted to paint fumes.
stag beetle
July 6, 2010
the dog brought a stag beetle to the door as a gift. We live in the city so any cool bugs are a big deal! We rescued it & the kids drew pics of it. Noticed that there weren’t any 2010 pics of stag beetles so was hoping this might make the cut!
Rachel in Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia,PA
Reddish Brown Stag Beetle
Hi Rachel,
We actually have posted four letters with images of Stag Beetles thus far in 2010, but we can always use some new ones, especially photos as entertaining as the ones you have submitted of this handsome male Reddish Brown Stag Beetle, Lucanus capreolus. We can imagine Albrecht Dürer working with a living beetle in the same way that your young artists have. If we decide to do a 2011 Calendar, your image is a strong contender.
Reddish Brown Stag Beetle as Artists' model
¶ Posted 07 July 2010 § ‡ ° Black beetle with retractable stinger
July 7, 2010
We found this bug on the side of a maple tree. It is about two inches long not measuring what looks like a stinger that it can retract. It doesn’t move much and looks impressive. We looked all through the beetle pictures and couldn’t find a match. Can you help us?
Thanks!
Walnut Hill Gang
Natick MA
Broad Necked Root Borer
Dear Walnut Hill Gang,
Your beetle is a female Broad Necked Root Borer, Prionus laticollis. The stinger is actually the ovipositor of the female and she uses her ovipositor to deposit eggs. According to BugGuide: “Eggs are inserted into ground (or under litter) in groups. Larvae tunnel downward to feed on living roots of a variety of trees and shrubs. At first they may feed on bark, but then proceed to hollow out small roots. Pupation occurs in spring, about 10 cm under the ground. Life cycle probably three years.“
Broad Necked Root Borer
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