Beetle ID request?

[Aquarimax]

Any ideas on the genus and species of this beetle? I discovered it last week (early April of 2019) under a piece of weedblock cloth in a sandy, recently plowed area along near the banks of the Virgin River in Washington County, Utah.

 

[davehuth]

Sure looks like Chrysina sp. to me. I’m a little stumped by the coloration though. Most I’m familiar with are green (I’m raising C. beyeri larvae).

 

[davehuth]

Also maybe look at Cotalpa sp.?

 

[myrmecophile]

Definitely NOT Chrysina, most likely a Cotalpa.

 

[mantisfan101]

Cotalpa aka goldsmith beetle. Good find and if it’s a female which it looks like one, it may lay some eggs for you. The grubs are super easy to care for but a little bit touchier than other species such as Dynastes tityus.

 

[Aquarimax]

Also maybe look at Cotalpa sp.?

Thanks! That is very helpful!

 

[Aquarimax]

Definitely NOT Chrysina, most likely a Cotalpa.

Thank you!

 

[Aquarimax]

Cotalpa aka goldsmith beetle. Good find and if it’s a female which it looks like one, it may lay some eggs for you. The grubs are super easy to care for but a little bit touchier than other species such as Dynastes tityus.

Thank you! When I collected it, I had no idea how to care for it, so I released it after taking some photos and video. It’s too bad I don’t have it anymore...it would have been fun to see if it could have gotten and raised some larvae. If I find another in the future, I’ll know.