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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Jun 03, 2008

Fascinating beettle, probably the size of my thumb. please id?

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 03, 2008

All manner of beetles at http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=beetles&search=Search

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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Jun 03, 2008

Thank you so much for that link! I was able to quickly id it as a Polyphylla decemlineata - "Ten-lined June Beetle".
http://bugguide.net/node/view/23563
Too bad it doesn't say if they're harmful for garden plants or not...I still have to figure this out!

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 03, 2008

Ah! Then you google "ten-lined june beetle" and, voila - from UC - http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r3300511.html

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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Jun 03, 2008

Darn, I thought he was cute!

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 03, 2008

Is WAS the operative word here? LOL!!

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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Jun 03, 2008

WAS.....hehehehhe...oh well, I guess if he's an adult now there isn't much damage he can do! it was a bizarre little thing, let me tell you...I'm usually not into insects at all (like all girls!) but he made a bizarre noise for the longest time and kept staring back at me...my dog was intrigued too! : )

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 04, 2008

Adults mate and then lay the eggs that develop into the larvae that eat the roots of trees and kill them. He can do lots of damage.... :-)

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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Jun 04, 2008

Is that so for all beetles? You know the back ones? They are everywhere in my yard now...the guy above I only saw once...but the black ones...everywhere!

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 04, 2008

There are lots of different black beetles, many of them beneficial. Ground beetles come out at night - you'll often see them scurrying away fast. They even eat slugs and snails. That is one example of many. There are also many beetles that eat plants. So it all depends on the beetle. You might want to familiarize yourself with the beneficials, so they don't get smushed.

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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Jun 04, 2008

You're right! If they eat snails, one more reason to keep them!

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