Could be just about any sort of scarab beetle. They all kind of look like that.

Have you noticed any damage? You might not need to treat.

Thanks Fori. Some leaf damage above ground but I think widespread damage underground as nothing really did well this year. Some flowers/veg just looked weak like they were really struggling and others produced nice vegetation but very little flowers. I know I had overfertilized (had soil tested) so I'm kind of chasing my tail with causes and cures

I don't know how well Milky Spore does in the high desert, but it works in the lawns and gardens elsewhere. You'd have to put it down now, but the coverage increases over the years as the Milky Spore reproduces and spreads.

Thanks Kate, I will try it if it comes to that. Sevin with carbaryl is supposed to kill grubs but they reformulated it for CA with zeta-cypermethrin instead and my sworn enemies leafhoppers and whiteflies are listed but not the grubs. I found a product (Bio Advanced Complete Insect Killer with active ingredients Imidacloprid and ß-Cyfluthrin) that lists all three so I'm going to try it. I also read (damn the internet!) that dish soap or borax will get the grubs. I will also look into the milky spore. I like the way it works for a long time although it only works on JB grubs and I've never seen a JB beetle in my garden.

Cancel the Bio Advanced Complete Insect Killer. I did some research (damn the internet!) and I don't like the sound of the ingredients. I'm only 72 yrs old so it might have time to kill me and I need every day I can squeeze out of this life

Get some beneficial nematodes at a reputable nursery. They keep them in under refrigeration. They are microscopic and you mix them with water and apply it at dusk with a sprinkling can because sunlight kills them. They go down into the soil to do their work.

Read up on them. Yes, they work!

-Babka

Thanks Babka I will try it.