California Prionus Beetle (Prionus californicus) on Aug 4, 2023

Submitter has sample

Description of specimen

We've lived here for about 15 years and have seen nothing like this. This beetle is an 1 1/2-2 inches long. I'll include pictures. Its shell is spread open because to my dad it was something from nightmares and it ended up dying and then getting dried out in the sun till I was shown it the next day. Because of it's more rounded and hard shell plus the antennas, it made me feel that this was not a cockroach.

Commentary

Thank you for your report! This is one of our largest native beetles, Prionus californicus (the "California Prionus" if you prefer). Their grubs live in decaying conifer stumps, roots, or logs. The adults are mostly nocturnal and therefore not commonly seen. Impressive and beautiful, aren't they?

Tom Valente
Aug. 4, 2023, 7:04 a.m.