elm sawfly and grapevine beetle
July 14, 2009
Hi Bugman!
Just used your site to identify this Elm Sawfly I saw while hiking in the mountains of North Carolina. Thought you might like the photo.
I also was able to identify the cute little Grapevine Beetle that was sadly squished on the grill of my car. Sorry little guy!
Carrie
North Carolina
Roadkill: Grapevine Beetle
Dear Carrie,
Though it saddens us, we are struck by the beauty of this graphic image of accidental insecticide. The poor Grapevine Beetle was in the wrong place at the wrong time and became collateral damage. It will not be appearing on our unnecessary carnage page which is reserved for malicious and premeditated killings and not involuntary roadkill.
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Posted 15 July 2009
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What’s the name of the beetle in my photo
July 14, 2009
I’ve had this bug body for years but dont know it’s name
beetle bailey
kentucky
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Dear Beetle Bailey,
This is an Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus.
Daniel, your site is new to me, and it’s really a great site.
Just wanted to say that I didn’t murder this beetle. I found it’s body on my deck one morning, and was facinated by it and kept it. That was twenty years ago, and I still have it. I have never seen another since. Hope it died of natural causes. There were no visible injuries, and I don’t have pesticides around.
Thanks for identifying it.
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Posted 14 July 2009
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Strange looking beetle
July 14, 2009
I have lived in Oklahoma all my life and have never seen one of these bugs in my 30 years in this state. They are about and inch and half long with a striped abdomen. They hiss quite loudly when disturbed. And the antler like formations on the head are very interesting. Is this a native species to Oklahoma.
David Gerlach
Oklahoma City, Ok. USA
Lined June Beetle
Hi David,
This is one of the Lined June Beetles, probably Polyphylla occidentalis. You can see some matching images on BugGuide. He has some pretty impressive antennae.
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Posted 14 July 2009
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Similar to Japanese Beetle in Size
July 13, 2009
This beetle is seen in my garden. It is similar in size to the Japanese beetle. I found this beetle on a grape leaf. It is mid-July and I have been seeing them for about a week.
Cathy
Nothern Westchester County, New York.
Oriental Beetle
Hi Cathy,
Your beetle is a Shining Leaf Chafer in the same subfamily as the Japanese Beetle. We believe it is in the genus Strigoderma based on images posted to BugGuide. Perhaps one of our readers can verify this.
Correction from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
The “shining leaf chafer” you thought might be Strigoderma is actually the “Oriental beetle,” Anomala orientalis, incredibly abundant right now here in western Massachusetts….
Eric
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Posted 14 July 2009
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Unidentified Beetle
July 13, 2009
I found this rather large beetle roaming in my garden.
My dog had taken an interest in it, so I had to move it to a safe location.
It made short hissing sounds when disturbed.
Tony
Victoria, BC Canada
Ten Lined June Beetle
Hi Tony,
The Ten Lined June Beetle, Polyphylla decemlineata, is found throughout Western North America. They are often attracted to lights.
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Posted 13 July 2009
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Metallic looking beatle skeletonizing grape leaves
Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 7:34 AM
We have a swarming of metallic looking beatles skeletonizing our grape leaves. It isn’t anything like the pictures of Western skeletonizing bugs shown.
wlarson
Iowa
Japanese Beetles
Hello wlarson,
These are mating Japanese Beetles, Popillia japonica , an invasive exotic species accidentally introduced to New Jersey in 1916. Since that time, the Japanese Beetles have spread throughout much of the eastern U.S. BugGuide does not list any sightings in Iowa, but there are reports from many surrounding states and the westernmost reports on BugGuide are from Kansas. Japanese Beetles feed on the leaves, flowers and fruits of countless ornamental plants, and they are most fond of roses. There are commercial traps available that lure the Japanese Beetles with bait and keep them from feeding on the plants. Mom in Ohio says the Japanese Beetles make the leaves of her plants look like lace doilies.
Epicaerus Weevil on Milkweed???
Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Hello Daniel,
I can’t be sure, even after an hour and a half of looking for this “bug,” if a weevil it is or not. The snout says it is… Yes? No…?
These two photos (lightened for assistance in identification) were taken in farm country in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The photo of the pair of red, black dotted, beetles (borer? blister?) was taken at the same time. I appreciate any assistance that you may be able give me.
Thank you so much for being there,
R.G. Marion
Bumble Flower Beetle
Hi R.G.,
Nice to hear from you again after so long. We actually believe the suspected weevil is a Bumble Flower Beetle, Euphoria inda, based on the appearance of its antennae. The photo is lacking details, but the basic outline of the form of the beetle and the antennae indicate that it is probably a Bumble Flower Beetle. There are clearer images on BugGuide which credits the following information to Blatchley: “Throughout the State (Indiana); frequent. March 20-August 17. On the first warm, sunny days of spring this “bumble flower-beetle” comes forth in numbers and flies close to the ground with a loud buzzing noise like that of a bumble-bee, for which it is often mistaken. When captured it defends itself by emitting a strong, pungent chlorine-like odor. A second brood is said to appear in September. The larva live in rotten wood, beneath chips and other woody debris. The adults are often found sucking the juices of roasting ears, peaches, grapes and apples, and sometimes do much damage. “
Red Milkweed Beetles Mating
We are quite certain your mating beetles are Red Milkweed Beetles or Milkweed Longhorns, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus. It is the first of the month now, and we always have problems with images posting at the beginning of the month. We will contact our web host and hopefully this will be corrected in the morning.
Female Eastern Hercules Beetle
Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 7:55 PM
It’s been a long time since I sent you any pictures, but I finally have a good one. Hubby heard a noise on the siding of the house this evening, and found the culprit. According to the pictures on WTB, it looks to be a Female Eastern Hercules Beetle. We took some pictures in the grass, but hubby offered to hold the girl, so I was able to get a good closeup. I’ve reduced the size, so as not to clog the website. If you need better quality, let me know.
Caron
Culpeper, Virginia
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Hi Caron,
We just finished posting two letters, one with photos of a male Eastern Hercules Beetle and one with photos of a female. Your letter is a wonderful addition to the two previous letters as it gives our readership an idea of the range as well as the timely appearance of these gorgeous beetles. We also now realize not making the Eastern Hercules Beetle the Bug of the Month for July was probably a big mistake.
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Posted 30 June 2009
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Green Beetle with lots of Black Spots
Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 10:02 AM
I found this in my room yesterday and took some pictures before I let it go. I live in Nashville, TN. I was surprised to see a beetle of this size, much less in my bedroom!
The picture I have of him are in a regular size drinking glass, so I would imagine the beetle is about 1.5″ in length. The tiles he’s sitting on are about 2×2 kitchen counter tiles.
Carson
Nashville, TN
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Hi Carson,
We will be posting your photos of a female Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus, along side a letter with images of a male. The male has spectacular horns. The Eastern Hercules Beetle is sometimes called a Rhinoceros Beetle.
Eastern Hercules Beetle
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Posted 30 June 2009
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Yellowish/Black Huge Beetle with weird Pinchers in front
Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 9:58 AM
What is this Bug??? I am from Michigan and visiting my mom in North Carolina and see some weird, ugly, creepy insects around here but this tops the cake. My son saw it flying around outside and told my brother in law to come see it. As soon as he opened the door to come outside it flew right inside towards his face. We were freaking out! I tried to do a search of what it was but can’t seem to find out. I hope you can identify it!
Tamara, E.L., MI
Warrior Mountain, Tryon, N.C.
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Hi Tamara,
We really wanted to make the Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus, the Bug of the Month for July, but when we posted this morning, we had not received any recent images. Your male beetle is quite spectacular, and we will be posting another letter with an image of a female Eastern Hercules Beetle which lacks the horns that also arrived today.
Eastern Hercules Beetle
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Posted 30 June 2009
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Green Iridescent Goldsmith Beetle?
Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 10:14 AM
We were at a friend’s home in Sauk Rapids, Mn, and our daughters found this shimmering iridescent green beetle. Her daughters found this link, and thought it might be that. Only in a picture that doesn’t show it’s iridescence, did I think it might be a version of this one, but when we saw it in person, it didn’t look gold at all…just the “bejeweled” green! As if it was imbedded with crystals.
The girls names are Madison and Shaelynn Waseka-(Mom is Marla), and Kristina Anderson.
I happened to be there to take pictures of her home/property, so we got the bug too! 
Photographer: Kathy Anderson
Property owner: Marla Waseka-Contact: Design Firm-Graceful Spaces
Later that day, she went to another friend’s house, who had just found a “Goldsmith Beetle” that day, and saved it since she found it dead. How ironic is that?
So it looks like this one is “family” to the Goldsmith-but is there another name for it, because of the green?
Kathy Anderson/Marla Waseka
Sauk Rapids, Mn
Goldsmith Beetle
Hi Kathy and Marla,
We believe your ID of the Goldsmith Beetle, Cotalpa lanigera, is correct. According to BugGuide, the coloration of the Goldsmith Beetle is . Even more interesting, the greenest example posted to BugGuide was from St. Paul, Dakota County Minnesota. We actually think your individual is one of the loveliest examples of a Goldsmith Beetle we have seen.
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Posted 18 June 2009
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large striped beetle
Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 11:17 AM
this beetle, probably a bit more than two or three inches was in our garage. He was struggling on his back. When I tried to turn him over, he hissed at me. I finally picked him up and put him out in the front yard. Can you tell me what he is?
Linda Williams
Marble Falls, Texas
Lined June Beetle
Hi Linda,
This is one of the Lined June Beetles in the genus Polyphylla, probably Polyphylla occidentalis, though species identification may be difficult. There are numerous matching images posted to BugGuide. The genus page on BugGuide indicates: “Food Adults feed on tree foliage, thus sometimes called ‘chafers’.
Life Cycle Eggs are laid on soil near host plants. Larvae hatch, burrow down and feed on roots of shrubs, trees, require 2-3 years to reach maturity. Pupation is in underground chambers. Adults come to lights. “ These beetles make squeaking noises when handled.
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Posted 16 June 2009
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