Photo of specimen with a US quarter (~24 mm diameter) for size reference. Please help identify what left behind this casing. It was found in middle of the yard, approximately 25 feet from nearest tree but was near a lumber pile if that is relevant. Located in south Central Colorado. Appears to be a winged beetle of some kind
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$\begingroup$ Welcome to Biology.SE. This could be a California root borer (Prionus californicus), but since the antennae are broken off I think it may be difficult to get a good id ... $\endgroup$– tyersomeCommented Aug 10, 2022 at 17:47
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1 Answer
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Note: I'm no expert and not even from North America, so take this with a grain of salt.
I think this is a May Beetle (Phyllophaga genus) or possibly a Junebug from the widespread scarab family of beetles. The adults range in size from about 12-25 mm (0.5-1.0"). A distinguishing characteristic of the scarabs is the linear ridges along the wing-casings and the beautiful stippling of the elytra (wing casings). Unfortunately you seem to have lost the antennae, which, if they are scarabs, have an enlarged club-shaped tip. It has an exposed scutellum and straight edges to the elytra, which are also features of the May beetle/Junebug family (Melolonthinae)
The Scarab family are a common pest of grass-lands and trees world-wide, and this genus is no exception - the name literally translates as "leaf-eater" (phyllo - leaf, phaga = eater).
