Pachybrachis mellitus

Last summer on my SouthWestern Bug collecting trip, Shawn and I pulled into a little canyon located by the Virgin River Gorge called "Cedar Pocket" located in extreme NorthWest Arizona. After attempting (failing) to find tigers or any other ground dwellers I positioned my sheet underneath a Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), gave it a couple wacks and was pleased to see these land on my sheet.

Pachybrachis mellitus Copyright: Michael J. Plagens

The genus Pachybrachis, is in the subfamily Cryptocephalinae, making it a close relative of Cryptocephalus. This subfamily of Leaf Beetles can easily be recognized by the base of their heads being rooted inside their pronotum.

We didn't find much else at that particular stop, but it was well worth getting out of the car for.

Hydrophilus triangularis

Last week, my sister, Becca, who attends U.V.U. (Utah Valley University) in Cache County, collected this rather large individual for me

Hydrophilus triangularis
Jason D. Roberts 2010

As the kind Sister that she is, she always carries around jars for me, ready to collect any Beetles that might cross her path. This happened to be one of them.

This specimen she collected me is about a inch and a half long. It is out spring through summer time and is supposedly common at lights, I'll have to look out for them this summer and catch a series.

My little Lucanus mazama Breeding Plans

With a job and another job on it's way, I've decided it's time for a new hobby, a particular species that I can collect by the dozens in my own neighborhood is Lucanus mazama.

There seems to be disagreements between plain hobbiest entomologists and scientist entomologists to a degree, from what I've heard from both sides... I, however, see no reason why I can't enjoy a little bit of both providing given respect for both sides. I've heard of people buying/trading specimens (usually showy ones) on websites such as Insect Net, Beetles of Africa, etc, which I see nothing wrong with as long as the individuals participating have accurate information (if appealing to the scientific community) or non at all. I recently was contacted by a hobbiest entomologist from Taiwan, who had read my Lucanus mazama post and was interested in buying some live specimens (No reason not to ask). In response, I explained, all that I collected were pinned and labled for taxonomic purposes. I can, however, collect more next year and discuss quantity, condition and prices then.

Earlier today, I was out in the field when I found 4 Larvae of  L. mazama, all appear to only be a few months away from pupating, I have them all in separate jars filled halfway full of wood chips, until they die, in which case the jars would be half way empty. If these plans go through, it would be an excellent source of income an would resolve many financial problems if my tactics prove successful...

Once I am knowledgeable enough to successfully breed and sell Lucanus mazama (As framed art, for breeding purposes, non-scientific purposes, etc) I intend to breed other Beetles for the same purposes. I recently heard a story from a friend (Dan Cavan), who knew of a non-scientist, Beetle enthusiast, who sold a male and a female Megasoma couple, glued to piece of cardboard in a picture frame to someone in Asia for $250. If I could even make a tiny fraction of that every time I did that much work, I would consider it well worth my time, non-harmful to the scientific community, and lots of fun.

Of course, I will still be labeling specimens I collect out in the field, OF COURSE, I will NOT let this hobby of breeding interfere with my other hobby of taxonomy. If you have any tips or feedback on breeding these beautiful creatures, i'd love to hear it. :)

Lord of the Ants

One of my top Entomological hero's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKbj3ZDmvdU&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Carabus nemoralis

Today was an exceptionally nice day! About 60F with the warm sunshine and very few clouds in the sky, my friend Owens and I walked to a branch of the Provo River that runs through a shopping mall/recreation center in Provo called "River Woods", so named after the Stream and few trees running by the corner of the property. The founder of this shopping center may not of been much of a naturalist because if I had the authority to name the place based off of its surroundings, I would of named it "Stream Brush".

We were sitting on a log, sipping some pop, when I noticed a marvelous phenomenon taking place! Insects were in the air!! So, I told Owens that I was going to go roll over a log about 15 yards away and hope to find some Beetles, particularly Carabus nemoralis. Now I know this is a very common Beetle, and is introduced from Europe, hence the common name "European Ground Beetle" but it is a Ground Beetle for 1, and 2, it's a beauty!! So, I rolled over the log and smack dab in the middle of the moist ground where the log laid, I found this species... Can you guess? No, you can not because you already saw the picture. ; )

Carabus nemoralis. Photographer: Mardon Erbland 2006

"Jon, you are one weird guy." -Owens
Yes yes, indeed. Not because I collect bugs though. For the next ten minutes, I searched underneath other logs, strips of bark, leaf litter, etc and found 6 more! Sadly, while time stands still when I'm looking for bugs, the rest of the world is moving forward. In order to remain socially "caught up", I had to drag myself away from the playground (kicking and screaming, respectively) and head home.

This species has been reported from both, East and West coasts primarily, but is slowly making it's way toward some of the middle states. Heck, it's already in northern Utah! Probably in Colorado too! If you know any of it's current, significant whereabouts, I'd love to know! Just leave a comment or send me an email -j.quist5795@gmail.com

Provo Canyon Mini Klondike 2012

Hello followers, readers and mishaps!! Things have been under a blanket of snow here in Utah County these last several months and the insect life is, well, there isn't much at all.

In a month or two here I will be back to posting regularly about my new finds around the Wasatch Mountians. There is a possible few trips around the western states I will be taking this summer including Nevada, Arizona, Southern Utah. (Nothing is set in stone for these). I will however be taking a trip to the Central Valley in California this summer to visit family, and just maybe find some critters while i'm at it.

Provo River, January 2012

Last January I went walkabout up through the ol' Canyon on sort of a solo klondike hike. The river was low and cold, as I would so boldly imagine.

Junked car of to the side of the trail

Not far into the hike, I noticed many junked cars beached on the side of the river, something I had never noticed before. There were four to five of them all in the same area. Not knowing the reason they're there or why they haven't been removed years ago, I did a quick google search and found nothing even addressing the subject.

Sunset view from the trail

A few miles into the hike I decided to turn my tail around and head back home, besides, a blizzard was kicking in and evening was creeping on. I found no insects on this hike but I did find many Scaphinotus habitats that I will set up traps in before long.