Wow Larry! I found something similar here in Ohio. It was another boring(as in a borer, not that it was dull!)beetle. It was over two inches long in the body. I never identified it properly. I think I still have it. I will have to look through my collection...

-Elisabeth

She was trying to bore into you, Larry! :)
Her legs look like a roach's legs - yuk!
How about this little beetle I found on my porch a few years ago?
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Sherry

Wow is right! I'm glad I've never had a run-in with one of those beetles. Always enjoy your descriptions of the events.

Sandy

How cool! My son would love to run into either of those beetles, although he'd be yelling for mom or one of his big sisters to catch it for him.

Oh gees! I know it's hot in Nevada, so I'll just have to pray that it is too humid for them in Houston!

Elisabeth,
There are lots of "borer" and "sawyer" beetle species widespread across the US. If similar to this one they would be Cerambycids (Long-horned Beetles). They can range from quite small up to this monster, with common names that usually suggest the genera of plants their grubs (larvae) attack. Some actually do a service by breaking down dead wood and helping nature recycle its nutrients.

MissSherry,
I'd bet you already know, but for the other folks your little guy is a Scarab (Dung Beeetle), probably Phanaeus genus (and it is a male).

Nancy,
Actually the monsoon season triggers the nocturnal activity of the adults, so with your humidity and Houston being well within their range, if you have any Palo Verde... beware of the night. LOL

Larry

YIKES! That's scary!

Sherry.....are those neon headlights on your beetle? :)
Here in Indiana we're starting to deal with Emerald Ash borers. They can really ruin the ash trees. Thankfully I haven't found any yet. (knock on wood)

There's some beetle I've read about that makes really loud chewing noises, as it chews on wood. It sounds like really loud creaking. It sounds really cool.
Anyone know the name of that one?

Isn't nature amazing?

Sherry, I remember when you posted that picture of the dung beetle years ago. What a beauty!

I'll bet that your encounter with the borer raised your blood pressure for a few minutes, Ladobe! It's those 'surprise' meetings that are so unnerving.

Gosh I'm feeling embarrassed that I freaked when a little Japanese Beetle landed in my hair. That's HUGE! I would've come unglued for sure.

Yes, Rhizo, I've kept these two pictures, because I thought they were just beautiful, in a bizarre sort of way.
It's amazing what dung can do for a bug!
Sherry

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

rhizo1,
Been doing this too many years to be rattled by surprises. The many hundreds of nights I've spent blacklighting moths and beetles out in the wild places from dry deserts to tropical rain forests for decades kind of dulls you to them. I've had just about everything come in to my mecury vapor lights especially, including many that would sting you, bite you or try to eat you. Just adds to the fun of the trip and makes the specimens collected that night even more special.

Update: I have had 4 more D. geminatus come in that I've seen, all between about 2-4 A.M. They were dispatched to take at least some of the danger off the trees, but I'd bet others completed their task of depositing eggs since we have hundreds of Palo Verde trees. Hopefully at least the trees around my bungalow have a better chance now.

BTW, had a big blue and white bird fly by low the other night about dusk. Was Air Force One and Obama leaving Vegas.

Larry

"Its amazing what dung can do for a bug".......LOLOLOLOL!

What a frightening experience, Larry - I mean it would be for me, but I'm sure you've become inured to encounters of the close kind over the years. On the other hand, had it been me, the neighbors would have surely heard my shrill screams and called 911 as I fought what I imagined to be some diabolical mythical creature of the night. Whew...doubt my old heart could take it.

But, I do love your stories! I can safely "live" the adventure vicariously thru the story-telling you share with us. And, that's about as close as I want to be. I do not like the thought of being assaulted by a mere bug! Give me something ephemeral and delicate - like a butterfly. Now, don't tell me there are ferocious, biting, species of butterflies out there somewhere........

Susan

Hi Susan ,
I really haven't posted much on the actual stories about black lighting out in the wilds - did't want to scare people into not trying it. It's such a very enjoyable way to spend an evening and as much of the night as you can stay awake for, especially with friends or family with like interests, and see or collect many species you probably won't find otherwise. Anybody that cares about the moths or beetles and other nocturnal insects especially needs to try it, even if only in their own backyard. But it can get exciting sometimes out in the wilds, real exicting. Like a Chinese Fire Drill for Lepidopterists' with everybody scrambling for whatever cover or high place they can find in the dark. I always got between and stood my ground until my wife, son and friends were clear, so I've had quite a few rumbles with critters better seen behind glass in a zoo or reptarium when up that close. But they just want an easy meal of the insects or other smaller creatures that come to the lights, and people are not really on their menu. Unless rabid or injured most are easily scared off by a charge or swat with the butterfly net, and the snakes caught with the net and relocated away from the collecting area. The sidearm I always wore when out blacklighting was for two-legged predators, not them, and I never shot even a rattlesnake on those trips. Did come close to shooting a mule deer doe once that silently walked up behind me and started nibbling on my shirt collar one night. But that was in grizzly country and we'd hiked into several of them that day.

Several species of lepidoptera larva can and will bite you if provoked and given the chance, and others will sting you for the same reasons. But with a light touch few of them will even try. I've handled so many species with urticating spines over the years that except for some of the tropical species their stings don't bother me at all (same with stinging/poisonous plants). But I have been nipped pretty good by a few larger larva I wasn't calm enough with.

As with anything that is wild, if you understand and respect them and don't get rattled they won't either. You are a guest on their turf so always try to give them the right of way. Remember too that there is nothing out there at night that isn't also there in the day time.

Larry

LOL Larry "The Insect Hunter"...You missed your calling on Animal Planet...
-Elisabeth

Elisabeth,
No Animal Planet want to be here, but I did spend my entire life in the outdoors with as much of it as other committments allowed in the wild wilderness areas. No finer way IMO to spent some time than alone out in nature learning its ways and becoming one with it.
Larry

Somehow I figured you would not want the limelight, just a bug light. Speaking of which, I found this, dare I say darling, Catocala out during the day.

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Thought you would appreciate it,
Elisabeth