Subject: Brown Leatherwing Beatle
Location: San Bernadino County, CA
April 14, 2013 1:24 am
Hello bugman, first and foremost I would like to thank you for helping me identify the species, and for the information I have already learned so much from!
There are several brown Leatherwing beetles on my porch tonight.
I know that this is a common time of year for this species, and I know they are attracted to light! I also learned from your site they are very beneficial. Thank you for that!
I was initially curious because all three specimen were on there backs, they appeared to be writhing. I would like to know what’s happening to them. Originally I thought it may be a female hatching her eggs, but after longer examination and further education from Pacific Horticulture, I realized the beetle had yet to produce any eggs (with microscopic examinatio)Also, they’re movement started to slow, they did not die however(at least as of now) and when I tried to flip the beetle over(making sure they weren’t stuck) they put themselves again on their backs, and continued the decreasing writhing!
Do you think something may be wrong? Is this the end of their adult life span(1 year)?
The only other theory I have is that it may have been a female releasing her pheromones?
I know the information is limited, but any additional information you may be able to offer would be much appreciated! I hate to see any living creature suffer, if this is the unfortunate reality!
Thank you again for all the education I gained from your site, including identifying the insect.
Signature: Jaime Nicole
Dear Jaime,
Thank you for your kind compliments. Alas, we don’t know what is troubling your Brown Leatherwings, but they are not acting normally. They seem to be dying. Perhaps they were exposed to toxins nearby. You might have a neighbor who is not as sensitive to the environment as you are. Adults do not live an entire year. Their lifespan is probably closer to six weeks, but since this is the start of the season that we generally see them, we don’t think they are dying of old age.
