For about an hour after nightfall, before the nearly full moon crested the looming Organ Range, I was bombarded by these big, beefy scarabs. The first one hit me in the shoulder and fell into the brush. I looked behind me and saw it hanging upside-down from a branch. I collected ten in all, expecting to turn most loose. I didn't want to step on them. I ended up pickling four, one of which I gave to NMSU as a record from that locale. ID based on specimens in NMSU collection.

In trying to photograph these beetles I discovered they did not have a pause button. By holding the beetle very forcefully, I was able to halt its progress across my pantleg long enough to focus, Then, releasing my grip and clicking the shutter in the same instant, I was able to get a few good shots.