Asiatic Garden Beetle?

[SweetMissDaisy]

...do you think that's what this is? I've found three of them, on cucumber and zuc's... I'm not convinced.

This one is on a cucumber (it dropped right before I got it squished!! ACK!).

Oddly enough, I found them all during the day. What I've read about Asiatic Garden Beetles, is that they come out of the soil to feed at night, then return during the day. I've also read that they are late-summer beetles... Sheesh... I guess it's HOT enough around here, and DRY enough around here, to confuse the bugs into thinking it's late summer!

 

[vfem]

I am no help... I'm not sure what it is!?

 

[Carol Dee]

I found this tidbit on line. The photo of the insect sure looked like what you have!

Asiatic Garden Beetles
The Asiatic garden beetle is much like the Japanese beetle in its biology and feeding habits. The immature stage is a white grub that feeds on the roots of grasses and other plants as well. The adults emerge in early summer and feed on various types of ornamental and edible plants. They tend to feed close to the ground. The Asiatic garden beetle seems to have overtaken and replaced the Japanese beetle in parts of the eastern United States. One of the biggest differences between the Japanese beetle and the Asiatic garden beetle is that Japanese beetles fly and feed during the day and Asiatic garden beetles feed at night. The Asiatic garden beetle is attracted to lights. This suggests a possible means of control that is not useful in controlling the Japanese beetle (i.e., light traps). Hang a light bulb above a pan of soapy water. Because this beetle tends to feed close to the ground, it would probably be a good idea to place the pan of soapy water on the ground and the light bulb about six inches above it. Asiatic garden beetles are not resistant to pesticides and Sevin provides fine control.

We have a terrible time with Japanese beetles here. They stripped our roses bare and made a mess of the beans last summer.