What kind of beetle is this?

[zonbonzovi]

"dude, if you really want all the random larva and poop i pull out of the ground i am more than happy."

Between my recent diet & "What"'s offer to leave some on my doorstep(IF he follows through), I should be all good on the poop. If you are serious about the grubs, I would gladly take them. They're fantastic for edu. outreach when the teach requests material about metamorphosis. Happy hunting!

 

[Eclipse]

Well the mysterious grub will remain mysterious. I broke some bark off the tree I found it next to and put it with some moist cocofiber. It just burried under the old bark then died lol. Guess we'll never find out. Oh well

 

[ZergFront]

That's too bad. Hopefully you'll find another. When there is one there are many.

 

[Nomadinexile]

I found a ton of these in different sizes and shapes today. (the grubs, not the beetle), anyway:

A big one, 4"+ that I was digging out to look at, bit the tongs! I actually pulled it from the forest duff by it holding on to the tongs! Crazy. It's head was 1/4 inch out from the white stuff. I didn't see that until it bit and I jerked back. I was actually using my fingers to dig when I saw it though, I switched to tongs. Glad I did.


Oh, and for the what to do with it:

All of them I found today were within six inches of the surface, in mixtures of soil, wood, leaves, etc. Fairly loose, but not fluffed or anything. Actually I just remembered this, I have one in my front yard right now. It dug a mound of dirt over where it's at. The mound is maybe 6inches by 12 inches.
The grub there is only 2"-3" though. I don't know why it's mound would be so big.

Weird Science ~r

 

[ftorres]

Hello your beetle grub looks lika a Cetonid, Cutinus mutabilis.
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=129391

judging by its coloration, it seems to be close to puppation.

They usually feed on compost and a mixture of decayed wood and decayed leaves.

I found a ton of these in different sizes and shapes today. (the grubs, not the beetle), anyway:

A big one, 4"+ that I was digging out to look at, bit the tongs! I actually pulled it from the forest duff by it holding on to the tongs! Crazy. It's head was 1/4 inch out from the white stuff. I didn't see that until it bit and I jerked back. I was actually using my fingers to dig when I saw it though, I switched to tongs. Glad I did.


Oh, and for the what to do with it:

All of them I found today were within six inches of the surface, in mixtures of soil, wood, leaves, etc. Fairly loose, but not fluffed or anything. Actually I just remembered this, I have one in my front yard right now. It dug a mound of dirt over where it's at. The mound is maybe 6inches by 12 inches.
The grub there is only 2"-3" though. I don't know why it's mound would be so big.

Weird Science ~r

Do you have pics of the grubs you found? Where are you located? It might not be a Cutinus sp but perhaps a Chrysina sp or even a Dynastid sp

.

good luck

francisco

 

[Nomadinexile]

Do you have pics of the grubs you found? Where are you located? It might not be a Cutinus sp but perhaps a Chrysina sp or even a Dynastid sp.

No, I'm sorry. I broke our camera taking pics of P. reddelli.

I live in Austin, TX. The grubs I found ranged in size from 1/2" all the way up to over 4", maybe 6"? I am unsure because the big ones were curled up.

The biggest ones were at least 1" in diameter if that helps...

I also saw some bombardier beetles and some pretty green metallic ones too!

I'll be going out this weekend again, with a hiking buddy this time. I will try and take measurements if I find the big ones again... I've never seen a grub before, they are really strange looking... cool though...

 

[Eclipse]

Thanks for the ID ftorres. I had a feeling it was them but I didn't want to assume because i know nothing of beetles and their grub . We have fig beetles flying here a lot.

 

[ZergFront]

Wow be careful with those bombardier beetles.

I wanted tiger beetles but found out that they actually aren't legal at all for California. Guess the conditions are too good here..(I love carnivorous beetles, though)