What is this beetle?

[dmina]

I came home from vacation and found this beetle in my house.. must have carried it in...

Any ideas on what it is?









I put the celery greens in there for it... I didn't have any other greens..(just got back from vaca)

 

[Ranitomeya]

Looks like Osmoderma eremicola to me. They're supposed to smell like leather and will feed on the juices of fruit and sugar solution.

 

[MantisMatt14]

Hermit beetle

 

[CosbyArt]

Looks like a match for sure by comparing it to the species - two votes for the same thing (one with a common name and one scientific) The hermit beetle or Russian leather beetle (Osmoderma eremita/eremicola).

 

[birdiefu]

Was your vacation in Europe, or was this at home in the US? If you are in Europe, the native hermit beetle is O. eremita, and O. eremicola is found in the U.S and Canada - both are listed as endangered due to loss of habitat. You might want to give it apples or something sugary rather than greens:

http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/USInsects/RearingOeremicola.html

BTW, I love the smell of leather - how awesome!

 

[dmina]

I love the smell of leather also... but I do not get a smell of leather from this bug..

I am in Michigan... and that is where I found it...

After reading this earlier, it was served some fresh cut apples...

endangered??? Well I guess I better let it go then.. so it can go forth and multiply..LOL

I just knew it was a lot bigger then the June bug that should be coming out soon.. the fish flies we have around now are nicknamed mayflies??.. this is July??.. and the June bugs always come after.. are not out yet???

 

[CosbyArt]

I love the smell of leather also... but I do not get a smell of leather from this bug..

I am in Michigan... and that is where I found it...

After reading this earlier, it was served some fresh cut apples...

endangered??? Well I guess I better let it go then.. so it can go forth and multiply..LOL

I just knew it was a lot bigger then the June bug that should be coming out soon.. the fish flies we have around now are nicknamed mayflies??.. this is July??.. and the June bugs always come after.. are not out yet???

Perhaps the leather smell is mainly dominant when it is trying to attract a mate. It is likely best to let it go, no need to start the beetle collection.

I guess most of the names come from areas further south than Michigan. I started noticing some June bugs about 3 weeks ago, so about mid-June for me