What is this??
Tue, May 26, 2009 at 6:55 PM
This is a picture of a bug I saw on my garbage can in southern California. I have never seen this kind of bug before. In person the orange on the bug is a lot more orange than it shows in the picture. It was at least an inch long and 1/2 inch wide, possibly bigger. It is orange, white and blackish. The white and black are verticle stripes and the orange is on its legs and face.
Is it a bity bug? Is it a poisonus bug? Is this the sort of bug that might move into our house and have lots of little funny looking bugs? How do I get rid of this sort of bug?
Amanda G
Southern Califonia

Ten Lined June Beetle

Dear Amanda,
Other than munching on some pine tree needles, the Ten Lined June Beetle will not do you nor your home any harm.  It will not bite.  It is not poisonous, and it will not move into your home to procreate.  The grubs live underground and feed on the roots of a variety of plants, but they are never numerous enough to cause damage.  Turn off the porch light at night and you will need not fear attracting Ten Lined June Beetles to your house.

Big Yellow Beetle (Specifics Needed)
Sun, May 24, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Dear What’s That Bug,
My family was enjoying a walk through town recently when the youngest of us stumbled across this bumbling bug. Physiologically this looks like a typical Junebug, but the extraordinary colors seem to say different. Is this a special type of Junebug, or just a rare color morph?
Backyard Entomologist
Central Massachusetts, Suburban

Goldsmith Beetle

Dear Backyard Entomologist,
The Goldsmith Beetle, Cotalpa lanigera, is also known as a Gold bug, and according to BugGuide “This was supposedly Poe’s Gold-bug , according to the account at Clemson .” BugGuide also indicates: “Adults feed on willow, poplar foliage” and “Female scatters eggs on soil near a tree. Larvae burrow to reach their food source, rotting logs and roots. They pupate at the end of one or two years in earthen cells.” BugGuide also states “This beetle is usually listed as uncommon.” This is a very exciting posting for us, both because of the rarity of the Goldsmith Beetle, and because of the Poe reference for the Gold Bug.

Goldsmith Beetle

Rain Beetle
Thu, May 21, 2009 at 10:42 AM
I’m not here to ask what this is, I’m pretty sure of what it is having found your wonderful site but I did think you might appreciate a couple of pictures. I found this emerald coloured Rain Beetle in my back garden and took plenty of photos before it flew away.
Pippa
Corfe Mullen, Dorset

Rose Chafer

Dear Pippa,
Your beautiful Scarab Beetle is actually a Rose Chafer, Cetonia aurata.  According to the UK Safari website:  is “Found throughout the UK, although thought to be declining in numbers. Months seen: May to October.”  The website also indicates:  “The rose chafer is one of our larger and more attractive beetles. The upper surfaces are an iridescent emerald green and bronze colour. The underside is a bronze colour. There are ragged white marks running widthways across the wing casings which look like fine cracks. Rose chafers are usually seen in sunny weather feeding on the petals of flowers – especially roses. ”

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Eastern Hercules Beetle
Tue, May 5, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Some guys in my Army platoon found this beetle while we were training at Camp Shelby, MS two summers ago (August 2007). It was very sluggish and did not appear in good health, and died shortly after placing it in a box to observe. I never knew what it was until i visited your site yesterday to post a question about a different bug. I thought you guys could use a cool image! It was about 2 1/2 inches in length and was found in a large open field.
I look forward to hearing from you on the ID for my question yesterday. Thanks!!!
Brian
Southern Mississippi, USA

Eastern Hercules Beetle

Dear Brian,
Thanks for submitting this beautiful photo of a male Eastern Hercules Beetle, Dynastes tityus.  Sadly, our email program for the website does not allow us to identify the sender of the message before opening the message, so there is no way for us to quickly scan your previous query.  In an attempt to locate the email you sent yesterday, we stumbled upon a gorgeous image of a Harlequin Beetle from Trinidad, and needed to post it.  Alas, our old computer is quite sluggish and every task we perform takes an inordinate amount of time, including replying to as many people who contact us as possible.  As soon as we get our book advance, we are going to purchase a brand new tricked out Mac so we can write and scan images quickly and easily.  We hope we are able to find your previous questions when we have more time, but right now, our real job is calling upon us and we have a train to catch.

3 horns, red and black beetle
Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 6:11 PM
This bug is in the Dominican Republic, the picture was taken in March or April. He hangs out on the balcony at my boyfriend’s apartment.
GH
Dominican Republic

Ox Beetle

Dear GH,
This appears to us to be an Ox Beetle in the genus Strategus. There are several similar looking species in the U.S. and they are pictured on BugGuide, but we haven’t had much luck locating a photo online of any Caribbean species. We did find mention of two species in the Dominican Republic, Strategus atlanticus and Strategus verrilli, but alas, no photos. We can tell you that this is a male beetle as evidenced by the horns. We will contact Eric Eaton to see if he can confirm, deny or elaborate.

Ox Beetle

Green horned beetle
Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Hi,
We found this cute guy on our deck. He sat there and let me photograph him for awhile. I have been doing bug photography for 3 years and cannot get enough. However I cannot identify this one
Caroline Farrell
Easley, SC

Rainbow Scarab

Hi Caroline,
This is a male Rainbow Scarab, Phanaeus vindex, a species of Dung Beetle. Only the male has the impressive horn.