Please identify this shiny bug!

12 years ago

So I have this bug on SO. MANY. of my shrubs and trees in our yard this year. I thought that maybe they were Japanese beetles, but comparing them to pictures online, they aren't quite the same. Then I thought they were Dogbane beetles, but they also have some differences. They appear either greenish or goldish, and they have black heads and upper bodies. No noticeable antenna-thingies. (yes..I am SO technical. ;) )

When you bother these guys, they often let themselves drop to the ground. They can fly, though. I don't know if they are eating my plants, or what. No major damage noticed yet..(except that my Mountain ash's new growth has some warped leaves on it, but I don't know what that is from) But they are on my Mountain Ash, my Tatarian maples, my larch, my roses, my double flowering plum....basically all my shrubs except not my lilacs. Unfortunately, even if these guys ARE bad, there are so many I don't think I can control them. :(

Any takers? What they heck are they?

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Comments (9)

weeper_11
Original Author
12 years ago
And another one. I have no idea how to post multiple pictures at once!

This post was edited by weeper on Tue, Jul 1, 14 at 16:02
weeper_11
Original Author
12 years ago
One more. These aren't that great of pictures, I know. I can't seem to get my macro setting to work right.

This post was edited by weeper on Tue, Jul 1, 14 at 16:04
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wayne
12 years ago
On my camera I have to keep the zoom down to get macro, it's a Sony. I hope those aren't Emerald Ash Borers.
weeper_11
Original Author
12 years ago
Nope, I just looked up emerald ash borers and I can say they aren't them! They don't have the big eyes. I'll have to try messing around with my camera again and see if I can't get it figured out. I have a canon rebel t3i.
weeper_11
Original Author
12 years ago
OK, double posting here, but I have discovered what kind of bug I have!! I don't know if it has a more common name..it looks like it is a type of Junebug/May beetle. It's full name is Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae Dichelonyx. If you are interested, I found a link that goes into a little more detail about them.

Apparently they "can" do a fair bit of damage if the numbers are high enough, but it doesn't sound like there is a whole lot that I can do. They feed on all sorts of stuff. I guess I'll just have to hope they don't seriously injure anything, and that after their life cycle is over they leave me alone.

Here is a link that might be useful: My shiny bug
Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
12 years ago
June bugs. They are often around here but don't seem to bother anything much. Of course I never see them in hordes. :) The dogs like to eat them. :)

Ginny
donna_in_sask
12 years ago
I would call them "Hanky Panky" bugs. ;)
northspruce
12 years ago
I've never seen those, but I just learned that what I call a June Bug is actually a May Beetle. One month off! LOL
http://bugguide.net/node/view/521390
Also, it's a close relative of your shiny guys.
weeper_11
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, they are both scarab beetles, and they are both disgusting!! I've been going around once a day and knocking off as many as I can into a pail of soapy water, but in the long run, I'm not sure that is a very effective control. But I feel better doing something!