CLOSED: help id large black beetle

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windsor224 Haycock,Bucks County, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 06, 2016

I couldn't find this one by searching for large beetles. Does anyone know if it is a bad or good bug and what it is? It's about 2" long and 1" wide. It has a light color underneath part of it. Thanks.

Thumbnail by windsor224 Thumbnail by windsor224
Post #10240474
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 07, 2016

This is a female long-horned wood-boring beetle in the subfamily Prioninae. Their larvae most often are found boring in roots of trees, and those of at least one species can be a serious pest in orchards or tree farms. See https://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/prionus-borers10.pdf for an example.

Post #10240525
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windsor224 Haycock,Bucks County, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 07, 2016

Thank you so much. I just spread bags of mulch and the next day here she was on top. Glad I caught her. She's not going back. I really appreciate your response.

Post #10240547
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windsor224 Haycock,Bucks County, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 07, 2016

I see these are native to the western north america and I'm in PA. See how easy it is to spread these bad bugs all over the world in nasty mulch. Too bad there isn't a way to make sure that no living things are in the mulch before it is sold. Everyone should be aware.

Post #10240548
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 07, 2016

Just FYI, There are species in that genus native to your area as well - http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Broad-Necked-Root-Borer

Post #10240568
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windsor224 Haycock,Bucks County, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 07, 2016

Wow, picture here is exactly right and they are also from here. I'm still very suspicious of the mulch (I don't know where it came from). Do you think that is possible since I've never seen this before, ever, until we laid the mulch.

Post #10240570
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Jul 07, 2016

Unless you are in a dense urban area, the odds are that the beetle is of local origin. Although quite large, they don't live very long as adults, and as they are mainly nocturnal (years ago, I would collect tile-horned prionids at our farm lights), they may escape notice...

Post #10240611
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windsor224 Haycock,Bucks County, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 07, 2016

Thanks again for the info.

Post #10240637
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