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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles (Scarabaeoidea) » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » May Beetles and June Bugs (Melolonthinae) » Melolonthini » Lined June Beetles (Polyphylla)
Photo#186509
warning mode - Polyphylla
Copyright © 2008 Tara Hahl

warning mode - Polyphylla
Carmel valley, monterey County, California, USA
May 31, 2008
Size: about an inch in length
when we touched its back these two "tongue" type of things came out and it arched up on its back legs and made a hissing sound. It is fuzzy on the underside of its head section but not in the rear. when not threatened the "tongues" fold away completely.

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warning mode - Polyphylla warning mode - Polyphylla
Contributed by Tara Hahl on 31 May, 2008 - 11:53am
Last updated 31 May, 2008 - 2:05pm

:-)
Male "ten-lined June beetle" in the genus Polyphylla. The 'tongues' are his antennae. Females are larger, have tiny antennae. They make the noise by rubbing the top of the abdomen against the wing covers. Very common at lights at night. Several very similar species, so can't assign a species ID. Larvae feed on roots of plants, but seldom cause undo damage.
… Eric R. Eaton, 31 May, 2008 - 2:04pm

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