Chaffer collection by Shrike

[jshuey]

I thought that I'd post this here - a photo taken yesterday by staff at out Kankakee Sands restoration - Can Anyone ID this beetle (NW Indiana).

The back story, Loggerhead Shrikes are state endangered - with less than 10 known nesting sites in the state. They are mostly found in association with Amish farm communities. Last year - we brought a small heard of 23 bison to Kankakee Sands (now 34, thanks to births)specifically to impact grassland structure for birds. Shrikes were one of the species we had in mind - they like patchy, grazed grasslands for breeding, and ungrazed prairie just is not what they are looking for.

Shrikes are predaceous little songbirds, and eat a lot of larger insects - even mice if they find them. They store excess prey just like you see in the photo, by impaling them on thorns and barbwire and then come back later to eat them. The bison are apparently working!

John

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[Deleted]

Its a June bug.

[trehopr1]

Specifically, the Green June Beetle (Cotinis nitida). A very active day flier.

[jshuey]

Thank you - for the quick ID.

John

[mothman27]

I saw and captured the only one I have seen in Whitley Co. just yesterday on the outside of my bait trap.

[Deleted]

The old time name for them was fig eater. That was probably back when tree frogs were still called tree toads

[Deleted]

I've collected two in the past week or so. They sound like a bumblebee when flying

[mothman27]

I believe they are more abundant in the South. Is that correct?

[Deleted]

Probably so. I saw about 40 of them swarming like bees in my father in laws goat pasture. I had no collecting equipment with me of course.

[Deleted]

John,

You need to teach your butcher birds proper pinning procedures and also I don't see a label.

[jhyatt]

Indeed they are abundant in the South! They're finished now, but through July there were about 20 visible at any time on a bright day in my front lawn here in Tennessee. They fly low, about 12" above ground, seem to like manicured lawns, and they (together with the Japanese beetles) practically cover the ripe blackberries in the pasture adjacent to my house. I had no idea they were scarce further north, or that anyone would bother to collect a specimen, they're so common.

When I was a kid, it was great sport to catch one, tie a thread to one of its legs, and go around with a buzzing, flying "pet" June bug.

Oddly, I've never seen one on he GA coast, where I spend a lot of time.

[jshuey]

Aug 4, 2017 15:53:23 GMT -8 @jtaylor said:

John,

You need to teach your butcher birds proper pinning procedures and also I don't see a label.

Man - I thought this bird did a great job. A spike right through the brain. Perfectly centered. But the data was a bit lacking.

j