I hope this is a good beetle because I let go.
July 10, 2010
I found this little fellow in the grass in my front yard. I live in Glen Burnie, Maryland. We’ve been having record breaking heat, 100º plus, and this guy was on the move. I brought it inside to photograph. The dime is for size reference and the background is grey.
Mike Rocus
Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S.A
Hi Mike,
Your beetle is a Green June Beetle, Cotinis nitida. According to BugGuide, the diet of the Green June beetle is: “Adults: Pollen; ripening fruits, especially peaches; and the fruit and leaves of many shrubs. Larvae: roots of many plants including: grasses, alfalfa, vegetables, tobacco, and ornamental plants.” BugGuide also indicates: “The larvae may be considered pests because they destroy the roots of valuable plants.“
