Scarab Beetle, but is it a Rose Chafer???

photo fan
June 10, 2010
Hello fellow bugnuts!
Many of the photos you post are positively breathtaking. Have you ever considering posting a section on hints for those of us with a bug-photo addiction?
Just for fun, I’m including a shot of a male sedge sprite damselfy and a rose chafer doing a “handstand”.
Thanks so much for your wonderful site!
Don D, St. Augusta, MN
Central MN

Hi again Don,
We have already addressed some photo tips in the posting of your Sedge Sprite, and now we can address this image of a Scarab Beetle.  The camera perspective, while it has created a whimsical image of the beetle, is not fully conducive to providing the best angle for identification purposes.  With beetles, this is generally a dorsal view.  We are not fully convinced that this Scarab is a Rose Chafer because we haven’t the advanced skills necessary to make that type of identification based on this unusual camera angle.  The legs on this Scarab do not appear as long as the legs of a Rose Chafer.  Do you perhaps have a less creative image that you can submit for identification purposes?

Hi Daniel.
Wow, what a generous response!  I am grateful for your time and advice.
Here’s another shot of the Scarab beetle.  As so often happens, I didn’t think it was anything remarkable when I was shooting, as I was looking for something else (damselflies).
Sorry I don’t have a better one.
The same thing happened the other day when I took a “throwaway” shot of a really ugly caterpillar I thought was just another icky sawfly.  It turned out to be a skipper caterpillar.
Thanks again for taking the time to help me with my habit!
Don D.

Hi again Don,
Thanks for sending us another view of this Scarab.  We still question it being a Rose Chafer, but this angle should allow for a better chance of identification.  Alas, we think it is time to request assistance.

Daniel,
Thanks for your help, but don’t knock yourself out.  You’ve given me too much time already.
It’s going to be raining here for a couple of days, but maybe I can get you a better shot between downpours.
Don

Input from Eric Eaton
June 9, 2010
Daniel:
The scarab is either a Macrodactylus or a Hoplia.  I’m leaning toward the latter because of the relatively short legs.  Don’t know what species occur up there, though.  You might want to refer the submitter to Bugguide.  We have at least two folks who are scarab experts there.
Take care!
Eric

Thanks Eric,
The images of Scarabs in the genus Hoplia posted to BugGuide do look like a closer match than the Rose Chafer genus Macrodactylus posted to BugGuide.