a black Beetle - Arhopalus productus

How did this beatle end up in southeast Texas?

For the past 3 weeks I have had 3 sizes, small, medium and large of this unusual black beatle in my bedroom. I am very ill and stay in bed almost 24 hrs a day. About 3 weeks ago I felt certain that something had crawled in my left ear. I couldn't get whatever it was to come out. Last week I felt a lump that was sore just under my ear. It felt like a swollen gland. Anyway, one night I had rubbed a pain reliever on my sore neck muscles and some got on the lump. About 10 minutes into my sleep that night I felt something wiggling in the ear so I turned the light on. Sure enough a medium size beatle came out. I had no idea what it was. Please tell me it didn't lay eggs in my ear. Should I let the doctor check? Three nights ago I rubbed the medicine once again on all my sore muscles. Sitting up in bed watching TV and about 5 minutes later a huge beatle fell from the top of the headboard or picture on the wall and landed on my chest. The medicine has a very strong smell to it. I don't know if it was attracted to it or bothered by it. It's body is hard. I grabed it and put it in the toilet, and my husband and I stared at it in amazement wondering what in the world it was. Tonight there was a tiny one in my glass of soda. We are in the process of replacing our bathtub and have torn a wall out leaving the upstairs attic open.
Does anyone know where they are coming from, and how to get rid of them if we find more, heaven forbid? Thanks.....Gayle

… GM, 3 June, 2011 - 5:17am

Gayle

It looks like your account was deleted, so you probably won't see this reply. If you'd like to know what your beetles are, please post an image to ID Request. Sorry I can't help with your other questions.

… Lynette Elliott, 3 June, 2011 - 8:41am

Moved

Moved from Beetles.

… Lynette Elliott, 7 September, 2006 - 4:47pm

something similar

I found a bug in Longview Washington that looks alot like this one. My cat had it on it's back this morning when I went to work. I took it the my daughter school class room this morning. The bug was a big hit.

… andyaa, 12 September, 2006 - 8:26pm

Most intriguing!

Big too. I want to see an ID for this one, Lynette.

… Jim McClarin, 6 September, 2006 - 8:43pm

Me too.

It looks similar to Asemum striatum in one of my books, but the size is off. At first I thought it might be a false blister beetle, but really I don't have a clue.

… Lynette Elliott, 6 September, 2006 - 9:01pm

Other than size,

I can see a dozen differences between this one and that species, which we do have in the guide. I don't think it's a cera*mbycid. The eyes are entire and bulging and the tarsi don't seem to have furry hook pads. The feet are too fine and delicate.

… Jim McClarin, 6 September, 2006 - 9:28pm

Cerambycidae: Aseminae: Arhopalus productus

The Canadian list shows several western spp. [A. asperatus, A. productus, or maybe A. foveicollis] that should also be in Montana. From another of their websites, I'd say A. productus - best guess. They also have an interesting details page. Yours is a female - recorded length is 15-25mm (did you include the protruding ventrite and to the tip of outstretched mandibles? Typically should be from tip of elytra to base of mandibles - that would drop a few mm).

… Phillip Harpootlian, 7 September, 2006 - 7:32am

My husband and I found two bu

My husband and I found two bugs similar to these. They were in/on active wasps nests on our house. What are they?

… marcielou, 2 September, 2009 - 7:22pm

You're sure they weren't wasps?

I don't know why any species of beetle that looks like this one would be on an active wasp nest but the world is a strange place!

… Jim McClarin, 2 September, 2009 - 11:17pm

Thanks!

I did measure to the tip of the mandibles but not the tip of the ventrite. That would shave off a few mm.

… Lynette Elliott, 7 September, 2006 - 4:40pm