Insect and Spider Identification: SoCal LARGE Blue (Flying?) Beetle, 1 by malama

malama wrote:
Hi everyone!

I am seeking information on a bug I encountered some 20 years ago when I spent a year living in S. Orange County, CA back in the early 1990s. When I first moved there, I found a dead bug that was so beautiful that I still think of it to this day. But when I try to search for it online I come up empty handed.

The bug appeared to be a large June Beetle - about an inch long.
It had a gorgeous, metallic bright BLUE color - not green like I see online.

Although I find lots of mentions & photos of large, metallic GREEN June Beetles in the Southwest states, this one was vivid blue. I think I found it when it was dead and it was so gorgeous that I kept it. I put it out on the balcony, and unfortunately it blew away. I still recall its intense, bright blue color and large size. Since I cannot find any info on large BLUE beetles like this in the region, I wonder if this specimen I had was originally green when alive, then maybe turned blue after death?

Any info would be helpful on this large, blue beetle from California. I have include pictures of beetles I found online that have basically the same color and appearance as the one I'm describing. Thanks!!

This message was edited Apr 23, 2014 6:04 PM