These beetles have been literally crash landing in my backyard for a few weeks, you can hear the thud they make on concrete across the yard. They're typically 3-5 inches long and apparently can't swim, that's how I got this guy. They're carapace is incredibly strong too - my 105 lb. girlfriend couldn't stomp one out with sandals on, he just kept going and going!
It looks like one of the Long Horned Beetles but I can't pin down which one. Possibly Prionus californicus?
This message was edited Jul 19, 2011 8:16 PM
That's the Palo Verde root borer. I grew up in Phoenix and we had a huge Palo Verde tree in our yard that came crashing down after a storm. The trunk didn't snap, the whole thing just fell over. The exposed root ball had dozens of huge white wiggling grubs sticking out. I would occasionally see mature beetles. Here's a link to more info-
http://www.desertmuseumdigitallibrary.org/public/results.php?sc=Derobrachus%20geminatus
Ah. I was close but not close enough.
