Subject: Beetle id needed
Geographic location of the bug: Kitchen Creek Falls Trail, Cleveland Nat’l Forest,CA
Date: 03/20/2019
Time: 01:34 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: is this another Shining Leaf Chafer: Paracotalpa puncticollis ?
How you want your letter signed: Terri V
Dear Terri,
We believe you have the genus correct, but we are not certain of the species, though because of its dark coloration, we are leaning toward a different Little Bear Scarab, Paracotalpa ursina based on this BugGuide image from San Diego. The posting includes a comment stating: “Paracotalpa ursina, dark form. Very common in that area on Chamise this time of year.”
Terri and WTB , you have a beautiful example of Paracotalpa ursina rubripennis in the dark form . Cheers ! Gene St. Denis Sierra Nevada Research
Thanks for the confirmation Gene.